COAST SALISH TERRITORY/VANCOUVER, B.C. – The First Nations Summit is deeply
disappointed with the 2007 federal budget, announced on March 19, 2007.
In an open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty, the Task Group of the First Nations Summit outlines their concerns with the budget, including:
- Backpedalling on support for the “principles and objectives of Kelowna”
- No consideration for the fiscal imbalance faced by First Nations governments
- No new resources to settle comprehensive and specific claims, despite the recent Senate Report, “Negotiation or Confrontation: It’s Canada’s Choice”