Mr. Speaker, the neglect of first nations is an ongoing black mark against the Liberal government. It should be ashamed of the way it ignores the huge problems facing these people. The government claims to be concerned about the problems but it does little about them.
First nations in my riding live in third world poverty. Unemployment is over 70% and over 90% in some areas. There is homelessness and a lack of clean drinking water. Preventable diseases like TB are prevalent. When I go to these communities I can hardly believe what I am seeing. The human tragedy of these conditions is heart breaking.
Last November I questioned the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development about conditions at the Shamattawa first nation. Shamattawa is a sad example of all of these problems. Four out of five children in this community have been or are addicted to solvents. Since 1992 there have been over 100 suicide attempts in this community of under 900 people.
Last week I got a letter from the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development saying that Shamattawa is a high priority community. If it is such a high priority, why has the government ignored its appeals for a healing centre to treat addicts within the community? Why did the government promise to pay for a recreation centre and only commit 16% of the needed funding? If this is what the Liberal government calls a high priority community, I would hate to see the low priority community.
Shamattawa is not the only community that this Liberal government has abandoned. In my short time today I cannot possibly list them all but I will mention a few.
One that I definitely want to mention is Garden Hill. This community of about 2,700 people was shaken by a terrible tragedy last month. An infant choke to death because no nurse at the local nursing station was able to respond to the call in enough time. The station is supposed to have eight nurses but only had three at the time.
The lack of health care professionals does not only affect first nations. Thompson has a severe shortage of doctors. These days someone who wants a simple physical has to book months in advance. Doctors are leaving and nurses are being laid off because of government cuts. These cuts are affecting all northern communities, first nations and non first nations alike.
That is why the New Democratic Party is calling on this government to reinvest at least $2.5 billion into health this year. Anything less will not be enough to patch up the holes we are seeing in our health services.
Earlier I mentioned the poverty and poor housing on first nations. I want to point out the link between this and the health problems we are seeing.
Take the God's Lake first nation. This small community of 1,200 accounts for 10% of all the cases of TB in Manitoba. That is a shocking number but not surprising when only about 10% of the homes on the reserve have basic sewer services. If the government would do something about these kinds of problems, it would save millions in health care costs.
The Liberal government must do more to address the conditions on first nations. These conditions would not be tolerated in Toronto or Shawinigan. It is a double standard to ignore the first nations. The Liberal government always points to the “Gathering Strength” initiative and the aboriginal healing fund as if they are going to solve everything. They do not even come close to what is needed.
We need a real investment in first nations housing, health care and economic development. Token gestures and empty words are not enough.