Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'm sorry. It leaves our children at further risk, and we're not able to access the same services because we don't have the funding available to do it.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We're in the third year of our enhanced funding and we're going to end in a deficit this year. That's going to continue, of course, as long as we're using the enhanced formula. This leaves us in a bad situation. It is already our experience in our foster care system that we don't have equitable services, as the province has, although in Nova Scotia the provincial Department of Community Services has been very good to us and supports our efforts to secure foster homes and training.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'm going to have to refer that question to Brenda. I'm acting in this position, and I'm not fully briefed on all of the programs.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  When we were able to do the prevention work with our families, it allowed us to keep children at home and deal directly with the families, and provide services to families without removing children from their homes and communities. We said in our report that the average increased cost for reimbursement for actual expenses for children outside the family home was 25.3%, and when we diverted the funds to a more proactive model in our prevention model, the rate of increase per annum was 4.3% over--

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'd like to say one thing. Where we would like our funding to go has been covered, but I would like to say that INAC must direct its legal counsel to allow the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal to decide the case on first nations child and family services on the merits and not on legal loopholes.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I don't have it with me, but I can make it available.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'm going to refer that question to Brenda, because I'm not sure where it stands.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  All right. We have recommendations that we have included: One, INAC must take immediate steps, in full partnership with first nations, to fully redress the inequities and structural problems with Directive 20-1 and the enhanced funding approach as identified by the Auditor General of Canada in their own evaluation of the Alberta model.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  In Nova Scotia, the Mi'kmaw Family and Children's Services agency has recently been audited by the Department of Community Services to ensure that we are meeting the mandated responsibilities of a child welfare agency. The department identified several areas in which we have not met standards.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you very much for the invitation to be here to do a presentation. Also with me is Brenda Cope, our chief financial officer. She will be helping me answer some questions, if you have any. I'll start my presentation. The Mi'kmaw Family and Children's Services agency has provided child and family services to Mi'kmaq peoples throughout Nova Scotia for more than 25 years.