Mr. Speaker, as we know, the Liberal government is committed to working with aboriginal communities to build healthier and stronger communities. Each year, more than $7.5 billion in federal money provides basic services for first nations on reserve, services such as education, health care and infrastructure.
Aboriginal communities face many challenges both on and off reserve. Budget 2004 doubles funding for the urban aboriginal strategy to $50 million, which is most important for my city of Winnipeg and other western cities.
Community programs receiving federal funding include the Canadian prenatal nutrition program, the community action program for children, and the aboriginal head start program.
The government also supports the first nations and Inuit child care initiative, which contains strategies for dealing with fetal alcohol syndrome.
In cooperation with the provinces, the government is further spearheading an initiative dealing with domestic violence specific to aboriginal communities.
These initiatives are only part of the government's commitment to helping aboriginal men and women acquire the tools they need to improve their quality of life.