Wall Government Destroys Partnership with First Nations at FNUC

Saskatchewan Liberal Leader Ryan Bater has condemned the Wall government’s recent decision to cut $5.2 million in funding to the First Nations University of Canada (FNUC).

“We need to work with First Nations leadership and the students to establish a reasonable solution- not unilaterally decide behind closed doors to pull the rug from underneath them. The Sask Party just told Saskatchewan First Nations that they have no interest in partnership - they are only interested in maintaining the paternalistic status quo.”

“The timing of this announcement is insulting. It’s outrageous that this government hastily announced the funding cut just as students were about to meet with the FSIN,” said Bater. “This sends a clear signal that First Nations’ point of view and in particular, the academic well-being of the students, is of no concern to this government.”

At the same time, Bater says enough is enough, and that it is time for greater accountability within the FNUC, “Two independent reports are due in a matter of weeks. This would have been an opportune time for all FNUC partners to establish new mechanisms to improve fiscal responsibility and accountability of the institution. Instead, this government destroyed that partnership, leaving the other partners to learn about the cuts through the media.”