Did the Metis National Council get its $400 million?

Mr. Economic Devastation!Tory love-in!

Tansi/Good Day Readers:

In the lead-up to yesterday's federal budget, MNC President Clement Chartier tabled a proposal calling for $400 million to stave off the impending "economicdevastation" of our Metis citizens by the economic down turn. A quick check of the Metis National Council and Manitoba Metis Federation websites show them to be devoid of comment. Did Mr. Chartier get his money?

Looks like once again we'll have to call upon Metis Mama at www.metisbarefacts.blogspot for the latest MNC reaction and her excellent analysis.

The budget document per se is over 600 pages in length but this is what we were able to find this summary on the federal government site http://www.budget.gc.ca/2009.

Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk

P.S. Oh, and by the way Mr. Economic Devastation what did you say you're Canadian taxpayer funded annual salary is - and how many thousands, and thousands and thousands of dollars in legal fees will the MNC have to pay MMF attorney Murray Trachtenberg for losing your vexatious, frivolous, malacious lawsuit against The Honourable W. Yvon Dumont?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aboriginal Canadians

The Government of Canada invests over $10 billion each year in Aboriginal priorities. Budget 2009 invests another $1.4 billion on Aboriginal priority issues.

- $200 million to support Aboriginal skills and training to ensure Aboriginal readiness for opportunity-driven initiatives and to improve labour market outcomes for Aboriginal peoples.

- $400 million to address First Nation on-reserve housing by supporting construction, remediation and complementary activities, such as lot servicing.

- $515 million to support First Nation communities with urgent on-reserve infrastructure needs, which will concentrate on school construction, improving access to safe drinking water, and the remediation and replacement of crucial health and policing infrastructure.

- $325 million to continue practical partnership approaches with Aboriginal organizations and provincial and territorial governments on delivery of First Nations and Inuit Health programs and Child and Family Services.

- As well, Budget 2009 will make a $250 million investment that will benefit all Canadians living in the North, including Aboriginal Canadians.

- $200 million over two years in dedicated funding for the territories to support renovation and the construction of new housing units.

- $50 million over two years in support of economic development in the North, a new Regional Economic Development Agency and a renewed Strategic Initiative for Northern Economic Development.

These investments bring the amount of new funding that this Government has announced for Aboriginal Canadians since 2006 to almost $6.3 billion.