Government will evacuate Attawapiskat if necessary

There are still many people living in tents and plywood shacks with no insulation on the Attawapiskat First Nation. But the plight of the people is being overtaken by politics. Roger Smith reports.

CTV News Channel: Two sides need to talk

Charlie Angus an NDP MP says the federal government needs to sit down and come up with a solution together with the First Nations because the chief in Attawapiskat is actually doing a good job.

Extended: Aboriginal Affairs Minister takes questions

Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan attends a media availability, but only takes a limited number of questions, resulting in a confrontation with journalists.

Power Play: Former PM weighs in on crisis

Former prime minister Paul Martin says as the holidays approach, many in Attawapiskat will be freezing in their homes, and explains how the Kelowna accord could have prevented the crisis.

Power Play: First Nations leaders meet in Ottawa

Assembly of First Nations Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse discusses developments and progress made at the First Nations leaders meeting in Ottawa.

Power Play: Feds and First Nations to meet

Mark Milke with the Fraser Institute says 57 per cent of First Nations people don't live on reserves, and explains it is because in most cases they are not working.

CTV News Channel: Theresa Spence, chief

Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence addresses media, saying the community doesn't need third-management; it needs action by fighting immediate needs. Spence says they don't have the resources to help anyone in crisis.

CTV News Channel: Officials react to decision

CTV's Merella Fernandez describes the tension in Attawapiskat after community leaders there turned away a federally-appointed third-party manager. Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan says the move is 'worrying' while Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo stands by the community.

CTV News Channel: Shawn Atleo on Attawapiskat

The Chief of the Assembly of First Nations speaks at a press conference, where he says the crisis in Attawapiskat is a moment of reckoning for Canada's relationship with First Nations.

Canada AM: Why the third party was rejected

Grand Chief Stan Louttit says officials of Attawapiskat want to sit with government officials to deal with the crisis, rather than having a third party come into the community. He explains how the third party is perceived as 'imposing an Indian agent on the First Nation.'

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Attawapiskat reserve in Northern Ontario, Charlie Angus, Canadian aboriginals

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In Pictures: Attawapiskat Reserve

CTVNews.ca Staff

Date: Wed. Dec. 7 2011 9:36 PM ET

The federal government says it will evacuate some makeshift homes in the troubled northern Ontario community of Attawapiskat while housing and other supplies are brought in.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan made the offer in a letter sent to Chief Theresa Spence on Wednesday.

In the note, he said another option is to retrofit a local sportsplex and a healing centre to serve as short-term housing.

According to Duncan's letter, an assessment determined that 15 modular homes are needed to accommodate families that are currently living in makeshift housing, including tents.

Duncan said the third-party manager, which the federal government had appointed to oversee the community after the housing crisis garnered national media attention and led to questions about the reserve's finances, is prepared to purchase the homes right away. They would be delivered as soon as the winter roads open.

"I again cannot stress enough the need to work with the third-party manager, our government and our partners to ensure the health and safety of the community," Duncan wrote.

"I believe the two options above are fair and reasonable offers."

In the letter, Duncan also said wood stoves, compost toilets and cots were being sent to the community. Duncan also offered additional health-care resources.

It wasn't clear late Wednesday what Spence's response to the letter might be. The third-party manager has already left the community at the request of the band council, which resented his presence.

Spence told a news conference on Tuesday that the problem in her community is not related to the reserve's finances, which are laid bare in quarterly audits.

Also on Tuesday, the Assembly of First Nations unanimously agreed to ask the United Nations to examine whether the federal government was meeting its obligations to the community under both Canadian and international treaties.

Attawapiskat has been in a state of emergency for nearly a month, after calling for help from Ottawa amid a housing crisis that has left dozens of families living in tents and trailers with winter approaching.

Interim NDP Leader Nycole Turmel says it's time to call in the military to help the approximately 2,000 residents of Attawapiskat.

Turmel said the northern Ontario reserve is in need of supplies that are hard to bring in due to the weather conditions and the absence of a road into the community.

"Moving supplies into this community to alleviate the housing crisis will require an extraordinary level of co-ordination," Turmel said in a Wednesday letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

"Given the extreme weather conditions and the fact that the winter road will not be ready for nearly two months, the community is seeking co-ordinated logistical help. For this reason, they have asked me to convey that they are asking for military support to help in the response."

Turmel said the current situation in Attawapiskat is no different than previous emergencies in which the government sent the military in.

"Our military has played an incredible role at times of other humanitarian crises in Canada. I am sure that you will agree that the conditions facing people in Attawapiskat are dire and likely to get worse as the winter sets in," Turmel said in her letter.

"I am asking you today to act immediately and target resources, including military resources as requested by the community, towards building adequate housing in Attawapiskat."

With files from The Canadian Press

Comments are now closed for this story

Prof. Pye Chartt
said

Hmm. Interesting 2011 consolidated financial statements for Attawapiskat. Revenue of $17M from Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, plus $17M from other sources, for a total of $34M. Expenditures were $31M, with "Administration" and "Program Delivery" accounting for $15M of that. An annual surplus of $3M. You don't need to be a professional auditor to assess the situation in Attawapiskat, folks. There shouldn't be any "emergency" there requiring proper shelter and basic essentials for some of the community residents. Ridiculous.

Shane
said

Umm wouldn't asking the UN to intervene be asking a "third party" to take control of the situation?And while I am writing this, what about using the temp concrete canvas shelters invented by some smart UK fellows? They seem quite easy and safe, plus they are clean portable and easy to ship, and though I do not know the cost they are certainly cheaper then the costs to ship all the materials required to build a true home. They can be fully insulated as well and connected together to make a larger structure and last for at least ten years according to the website. (I don't work for them but would for sure if they wanted :) )

Nathan
said

Give them the support they request. Get the situation under control, and then do an in depth audit and investigation. If they find a misappropriation of funds then send them the bill for the army on top of it. Send a message to the abuse of socialism Mr. Harper. You have the majority power to do so and I know that an option like this is in line with the Conservative party.

jnico
said

For anyone interested on where the money went, the financial statements are all posted online on the attawapiskat website! Shocking!

dieter from Ottawa
said

The military should be used as an instrument of National Power only as a last resort and where and when a civilian company cannot provide the same service. Thus, this situation does not qualify. So, if additional government resources are to be used then a civilian company should be contracted using government funds.

Josh Easton
said

This land BELONGED to the First Nations before Canada existed. We our ancestors came and took it from them without paying them or even bothering to settle up. If it wasn't for the First Nations we would have lost the war of 1812 and our country would be American now. We owe the First Nations a huge debt but here they have shamefully been moved onto barren land with no resources to help themselves, with no schools, with inadequate shelter UNDER the responsiblity of the Federal Government. This is shameful and those who would think otherwise have no shame at all.

Roy Dunlop
said

read their so called financial report last nigt. elacted and unelected band council members salary just over $2.2 million. board of education over $200 thousand between the band council and education board one surname comes up 8 times. one band counciler for 4 months $6000 64,000 travel expences. i payed towards that with taxes WHERE is the MONEY?

J.C.
said

I agree the military should go in as they are expert at an immediate solution for this type of emergency. They could also get supplies there very quickly, so the immediate necessities are taken care of. When that is done then I would like to see the third party in there again to check things out with the money and teach better handling of the finances if that is what the problem is or find out whether more funds are truly necessary. I would also like to know why when the houses are built for some, they are so quickly destroyed, and not kept up???? How many times do the people on reservations think we the taxpayers should build them homes. Many of the homes that are purchased by us last for a hundred years or more, why don't they last that long on the reservations??? Why do they let them get so run down?? They want good houses, well I'm sure their houses are built to housing standards. I would like to have a home too, but unfortunately I cannot afford one, and we worked very hard our whole lives, but circumstances beyond our control intervened The point being that not everyone who lives off a reservation has their own home, nor does everyone earn big bucks and those on fixed incomes including many seniors cannot even afford to eat properly or pay for medications etc!! There are many people who live across all areas of Canada who live below the poverty line, which I believe is now around $15,000 and certainly do not get $40,000 per person or $60-70,000 per family.

Dave in Alberta
said

Military???? Has the NDP finally gone over the deep end? No we should not be sending the military in onto a reserve. Do they not remember OKA. We have sent in miliions and now they want tto send in the military, what a joke. Yes send in Mike Homes

Mike
said

And where does Nycole Turmel expect all these soliders live while they are doing all this building of houses. O yeah, they are only soliders they can live in tents even though it is now winter time. I would like to ask Nycole Turmel if she is will to leave her family and go live in the tents with these soliders. I just wonder if these NDP members ever think about what they are going to say before they stand in the HoC and run off at the lip.

realist
said

Disgusting how an issue like this turns into political pandering. I am going to start a common sense political party. You want money, we do audit. You can't manage your own affairs, we'll do it for you.

George in Calgary
said

For all of those that demand that this situation be fixed and fixed right now I would say all should be on the next scheduled Air Canada flight to this community and then bring in endless flights with building supplies. Everyone realizes that something must be done. Some realize that it is winter and that getting much needed supplies to this community is tough. Then there are the squawkers who squawk very well but sit on their thumbs when faced with real progressive action in the field. So how many are really willing to head north and build houses all to code of course. Another question is I have never heard anything from other aboriginal groups saying they are headed that way to physically help. Why is that?????????????

Jen Pelletier
said

Amazing how quick people are to judge when they don't bother taking the time to research the facts, they just believe the propaganda out there and don't bother even knowing what they speak of All of you thinking natives get free housing etc. before you speak you should research the treaty's so you have an idea what your talking about. These treaty's were set up by govt. not the natives we didn't even write back then The Govt wrote out the treaty's they are the ones you should be angry with about so called "free stuff" there is a lot of stuff on the internet right now about the Attawapiskat situation maybe it 'hurt some of you to research your so called facts and knowledge before you go judging. you know what they say, better to let them assume your a fool, rather than to open your mouth and remove all doubt As far as I see it a lot of departments from the top down have dropped the ball and they should just make sure these people are living in better conditions for winter and deal with all their politics and bull and mud slinging after the people who are living in tents are looked after first

Melissa North
said

Good, the government can send them every where else in the world. lets start at home and deal with what needs to be fixed here first. Time harper starts looking after his own back yard. As for everyone that keeps asking where the money went to, their annual budgets are posted. if you can use the internet to spew your hatred for a group of people you could use search for that information.

mark
said

Oh look, socialists calling for more government intervention. Because that obviously worked so well in the first place for these people. Why the sudden rush? After all, this riding is represented my an NDP MP. I guess someone wasn't doing their job...

Doug ^^^ BC
said

Sorry "URU".I agree with you most of the time, but I think you are off base this time.There may be blame to assign,but I think it is pre-mature to say for sure where that blame lies.I understand why this community doesn't want a govermnet agent in their town.So why not compromise by finding a mediator,or have the AG sift through the books? Secondly.many First Nations people in BC make it known that they ARE NOT Canadians.I agree that the immediate problem is to get housing for these people before winter gets really nasty.But don't run up the Canadian flag for First Nations people not willing to fly it every day of every year,from now until eternity. No.I am not First Nations.Though I did grow up in a community in which First Nations people were half of all ther friends I had in school.Very few non FIrst Nations people I know stand up more often than I do to defend the need to get BC FIrst Nations people out of poverty,and more involved in our economy.But it takes two to tango .If First Nations people want o band together to make this a racial issue,the cause that we once supported could be lost for decades. People on both sides of the issue will be more hardened in their views,and all we will do is pass the same problem on to the next generation.Our children and grand children. Like the federal government,First Nations governments must also be accountable for the money they spend.Transparency by all,should be welcome by all.Inflamatory rhetoric is counter productive to solving the problem.It only serves the needs of those who don't want the problem solved at all.Those who hate other people.

peter in mb
said

I wonder if Nycole Turmel ever heard the saying �god gave you two ears and only one mouth for a reason! So that you can listen twice as much as you speak. If she actually listened she would know that the PM and ministers are on the same page. And The NDP had the same idea that a 3ed party should go in and see how the money was being spent. And she would also know that�s its hard to help people who ask for help when they kick you out when you show up to try to help them. Nycole Turmel daily flip flops are worse then iggys and the liberals were in the past.

spaz
said

I vote for CHARLIE ANGUS as the new band chief.Just wondering.....since the winter roads are still a couple of months from operational.....how did Charlie Angus get there during the election ????Would it not be funny if the news got out that Charlie has never set foot on the reserve ???No wonder he was all quiet till the story broke !!!!

Chris
said

"State of emergency", come on. If this was one of us tax payers, we would have our kids taken away, charged with fraud (all those misused millions of dollars) and our home would probably be torn down at our expense. Oh what I would give for a peace of land, a pay cheque every month and not having to pay taxes. Dont help them anymore, at least not with taxpayers month. Just help the kids as this is not their fault.

steve
said

here comes the rascist rants and spewing hatred from the right. let her fly mini harperites

Mike
said

Where has all the 30 million dollars given to them by deboers diamond mines and the millions given to them from the federal government and the millions given to them by the ontario government, YES WHERE???? Time for an audit.The chief is hiding the truth from me the tax payor and I want justice. Remember when you cry wolf to many times they will not hear you.She probably thought that the governments would come running with open arms and no questions asked. Well what a surprise when they asked to review the books. OOH what have I done she said to herself.

KyleB
said

Military aide??I thought they needed housing & infrastructure? Not to slight our Military, but for crying out loud. Don't send the Army. Send Mike Holmes and his TV crew. That should get things done and at the same time perhaps embarrass a few people into doing their jobs a little better!

peter in mb
said

The people of Attawapiskat who are suffering need to start taking matters into their own hands. The natives are good a civil disobedience and protests such as road blocks and such. Maybe they should direct that anger towards their own chief and band counsel by kicking them off the reserve and allowing the governments 3ed party to come in and audit the books. The people who are suffering in Attawapiskat deserve to know the truth as well as the tax payers. If the people don�t stand up for themselves they will continue to suffer wile the chief and band counsel line their pockets with all the money.

Helene
said

Just because you did spend a half day in this northern community makes you an expert...?The Federal Government is on the right track to force this unsustainable situation with the First Nation. Native communities are to be accountable for the billion $$$ they receive in various aid and program packages to the Canadian taxpayer through the Government and it is high time this process is being pushed forward.This may be hard to understand for Ms. Turmel with her Union mentality but that's the way it should have been for a long time.Enjoy the lime light while it lasts.

Just Saying - Ottawa
said

The Chief for this reserve was on the news saying the Government is letting her people down. Just what has this Chief done for her own people. Why is she not making sure the money is getting out to her own people and ensuring they are in warm houses, have proper drinking water and so on. We hear also that they have gotten money from the Liberal Provincial Government. Find out what this money has been used for. In the meantime get cracking and get supplies in to this Reserve to get these houses in shape for the winter ...NOW..

Prof. Pye Chartt
said

Sounds like a good idea, and the perfect distraction from the near-criminal financial irresponsibility at play in Attawapiskat. The NDP's interim leader is the perfect "official" political spokesperson for this First Nations community, as both believe that more money is the magic solution to all encountered problems. Ultimately, however, if the City of Toronto can requisition the military for "emergency" snow removal, surely Attawapiskat can requisition the services of our fine Canadian Forces men and women for their more legitimate "emergency."

URU
said

We have a SERIOUS Human Rights abuse in our own country that needs to be URGENTLY addressed. Our people who are the true Canadians of this land and country is being denied their basic rights and is suffering from abuse by our own Gov't who has turned a blind eye on our own people!!!! This is injustice while our own Gov't is using Human Rights on other countries to avoid detections of its own abuses back home!!!! We need to URGENTLY HELP these communities and built QUALITY HOMES THAT ARE ACTUALLY LIVABLE AND PROPERLY INSULATED- NOT - cheaply made homes.

Steve in Vancouver
said

It sounds like the NDP are desperate for attention by asking the government to invade this reserve with the military. l kinda think you might want to keep the military out of there. The NDP represents this community in parliament and why have they not brought this to the governments attention long before now. Maybe Charlie Angus their NDP MP should have gotten off his plush couch and visited his constituents long before now. It seems they don't want help anyways just money. They certainly don't want accountability.

DUH!
said

This is not good. How would the people in Attawapiskat react when the military arrives? They will cry foul and it a conspiriacy to invade the reserve. Soon the NDP will have a better leader for the NDP. Co-ordinate all intervention through the First nation communities near Attawapiskat them. Let the communitites open up their doors and find room in their homes until this is resolved.

Ben, Edmonton
said

The fact that this is being played out politically like some kind of ridiculous game is a national embarrassment. There is no reason that anyone in Canada should be subject to these kinds of conditions.

Katherine
said

Barbara - they have been asking for help for a long time, far too many reserves have. Attiwapiskat has finally gotten loud enough and forced some media attention. Those of us who live in the north know all too well that poor living conditions is more norm than exception when it comes to remote communities. So many people, especially politians, either don't or choose not to see it, so that is why it has been neglected for so long. NOT because the people living there have been happy with the situation or have not cared up to this point.

jon rotten
said

I was in the army once ..... pretty good with a gun but bad with a hammer.keep smoking nicole

Wade Ens
said

If they paid for their own house like I do maybe they would after them.

RJ in Halifax
said

The NDP's position is getting way out of hand. They appear to e more interested in making political points thyan resolving the root cause of the problem - mismanagement of federal funding. I believe the MP for the area is from the NDP and has been the member for about the past 12 years. Why was he not aware of the plight of the people he represented prior to the band declaring an emergency just two weeks ago? Shouldn't the NDP leadership be questioning this individual's obvious lack of attention to the very people he represents instead of attacking the government?

steve
said

i think ms. turmel is trying to keep herself and the n;d;p; in the spot light in hope that they will get a few more votes in the next election. what exactly does she want the army to do?

JDF - Calgary
said

No. I Have to ask: Where are Ontario's Child and Family Services Agency? Shouldn't this Chief, counsel and the parents who allow their kids to live in these conditions be subjected to investigation for child abuse?

Nicjac
said

Typical NDP move, spend some more money. The money spent there has been wasted for years, they need management to control the money that flows there now.

Frank Buchan
said

It would be foolish to send the military in without the First Nations people asking for their assistance, because otherwise the Canadian Government could be easily accused of invading a territory of the First Nations government. As ridiculous as that sounds, it's technically possible that would further complicate matters.Part of the skew here is that politics has got in the way of sense. Canadian people (First Nations, but still part of a shared culture, and this country) are in dire need, but so far every politician involved has been self-serving, argumentative, combative, etc. And I include the band council in that array. I think in its own clumsy way the Federal government has actually tried to do right, but they mistook the order or operations: help first; investigate later. Even doing so simultaneously creates the adversarial fuel to trigger every two-bit politician alive to nitpick, regardless of whose "side" they are on. What is lost is that this is not a matter of sides, but of people who face some serious problems we can fix.As well, let's be clear that the money we "give" to native peoples isn't a handout, but an obligation by treaty, and so on. Granted, successive governments in the past (and maybe the present) have violated the intent of those treaties fairly often, but we signed onto that obligation. But that said, the First Nations need to be sensible, as well, and realise that none of the average taxpayers who fund that payment were even alive when the treaties came into being. And those average folks are universally hurting these days. Asking for an audit to understand how come funds seem to have gone awry is fair if there is a request for help by way of funds.

Brian Fr Langley
said

These are people, not political footballs. For to long we've focused on maintaining a culture long since lost. If individual 1st Nations folks were granted private property rights like the rest of us (on their traditional lands (reserves) they would prosper. "Collectivizing the Indian" to preserve a lost culture is a failed experiment. While the social engineers who conduct this experiment are highly paid and well off (Dept of Indian Affairs bureaucrats) their charges seem worse off with every passing miniute. This situation will never be resolved (nor can be) until these folks enjoy private property rights (on their reserves) like the rest of us. This aint rocket science, it's plain old fashioned common sense. Property owners, typically take better care of their property than tenants. We've turned a whole people into tenants in thier own homes on their own lands. De-collectivize 1st Nations

Barbara
said

My question in all of this is "Why did they wait so long to holler about needing help?" This isn't something that just happened overnight. It is a situation they have been living with for a long time ... years even. So, why wait until the sounthern parts of Canada are experiencing "winter" to suddenly cry bitter cold and inadequate housing? This band chief should really go into politics. Nothing like knowing how to score with the electorate, and this band has certainly done that. No, this is a situation that should have been addressed long ago. If they cannot do that, then this particular band and band chief do not deserve to be given money without a third party to oversee how it is spent and make sure it goes to the good of ALL the band members, not just the chief and elders.

Gill
said

Great idea, with all their experience in Libya and the Afghan area it should be a easy job to replace the leader and get the finances of the reserve in order and let some of it trickle down to the people.

What ////
said

What is going on?? The Band & the First Nations want the UN. The NDP want the Canadian Army. Yet neither the NDP nor the First nations nor the Liberals seem to care how much money would be spent for any of these efforts.Surely,the First nations, NDP & Liberals must recocognise how foolish they appear when they refuse to allow any accountabilty for monies already sent to the reserve? My sympathies are with the people of the reserve that must survive under a seemingly corrupt unaccountable leadership that is not only defended by the First Nations but also by the attention -grabbing NDP/Liberal coalition. What has the local NDP MP Charlie Angus been doing for the last 7 years.? ooks like a clear case of 'failure to represent' should be laid against him. The whole saga is, unfortunately, quickly approaching the rediculous stage.

Jill
said

Where can I get free housing with heavily subsidized utilities meanwhile driving my brand new F150 pickup and don't have to work? Please sign me up!!

joe canada
said

All I can do is shake my head when reading about this reservation and the government. A third party watching us must think Canadians are real stupid. Time to shut down reservations. And as far as the NDP go, enjoy hearing yourselves now because in 4 years you will be so low on the ladder no one will here you again. Good job wasting everything Jack has worked for. You are lost.

red neck from alta
said

send these folks south for the winter to say a military base , they would be safe and it would give everyone time too look at what is best for them and if a crime was commited . slow this thing down so we the tax payers do not get done over again.

spaz
said

Perhaps Ms Turmel has forgotten of a LIBERAL government's idea to involve the military at.......OKA...or something like that....tell me again....how did that work out ?????While we wait for answers.....perhaps Ms Turmel could put up a few of them at her house, and show them some down to earth NDP hospitality ??

Mike Jones
said

Obviously it's better to have our army in afghanistan where it's more dangerous, nothing has changed (extremism still very present) and not to say the colossal cost of running an operation there. Then again, with a Conservative Majority, not like there's chance of much changing

Average Canadian in NS
said

This is a prime example of how the NDP will react to a similar situation if ever they become government. "Forget accountability or where the money went, just spend more of our money and don't worry about the money, we will give you more." This is so predictable from the NDP. I thought they care about Canadians and where our money is being spent.

anna
said

The NDP are full of . . . answers, aren't they? Perhaps they should find out more about the problem before having their media releases. This community has not been entirely forthcoming.

Richard
said

Can we let the aboriginals govern themselves and let's not fund them anymore now please? Let them have their own borders, their own currency, their own taxes and their own military and health care system. I'm done with this bs already and this ancient "Indian" reserve...comon folks it is the 21st century here. Either get with Canada or stop draining the system and do your own thing.

MIkeW
said

No more help help till we either find out where the money went (and the natives did nothing to earn the money, they just want free handouts, at least this band anyways) or the Canadian goverment on my (taxpayers) behalf build adaquate, not luxury, style housing. Sorry no more money to be dispersed, we will do the job. And we expect those in this band who are able to work, go out and find workSorry NDP losers, no more free ride

Sean from sarnia
said

Were starting to sound like the United States, listen up we only have so many resources and so much money, ten years from now with everything going on in the world will it have been worth it?

Maureen
said

First this crisis needs to be addressed. Winter is here. Should we let these people freeze, and have to huddle around a fire to keep warm, and use buckets to go to the washroomin? It sounds as if some people are trying to punish this Band. They are asking for help, and the first thing that our government comes back with is, where is the money we gave you. HELP THEM FIRST, and then check into how the funds that were given were used.

Lz in Edmonton
said

Excellent Idea. The Army will get them into shape. How about an evac to an apartment complex? Here is an idea, 90 million dollars would have built a very nice concrete apartment building for all the residence of the community. Why would I want to build 280 x $250,000 homes for a bunch of people that will destroy those same free homes in less than 5 years. Total Stupidity. From now on, build only Concrete apartment complexes and have them pay rent to the band. Novel idea. However, FREE Money? Sign me up to be the Band leader and Chief because I'd be set for life.

odin
said

STUPID is as stupid does...F Gump

Ray (redskin)
said

For all those people against helping the natives TODAY, get off my land and go back home to Europe, or you will have to build yourself a cabin if the middle of the sky world

Mexican Gringo
said

Once they start paying taxes, then we can send in the Federal (military) help.

kjs
said

Why is the Government of Canada being referred to as the "Harper Government".? He is the Prime Minister - not the entire government. He is an employee of the Government of Canada and, while he is in the leadership position, I hardly think that rates changing the name of our governing body. Referring to the government in this way is happening all too frequently in news stories and I'm wondering why the press has taken up the practice.

V-edmonton
said

The money went to education, heath, infrastructure, housing etc etc. Their financial records are open for people to see, and they were also audited, and approved by INAC.

Richard in Calgary
said

Let me see if I got this straight. The NDP support the Occupy protesters squating in tents in the dead of winter, because it is their right, AND they demand the goverment/military to build houses for people who are suppose to be, by their culture, living in tents? I don't get it.....

Jay
said

Where is Jack Layton when you need him. Ms Turmel is single handedly running this party into the ground.

S in Vancouver
said

I wonder if every bleeding heart voice crying out for justice is aware that they are drowning the issues in a sea of complaints with different demands. THIS is why the Tea Party succeeded and the Occupy movement failed. The left needs to organize and present a coherent message, or shut up and let the people who are personally impacted by a problem to have the stage alone.

FCS
said

That's right NDP send in the military. The same military you marginalize daily, accuse of being war criminals and would completely destroy if you were ever elected. Every day, without fail, the NDP hypocrites find a new way to make me sick

curiousGeo
said

Sounds like someone is trying to shift away from a damning audit by trying to get world sympathy. "Look at us...we tried to do the best we could with the 90 million Canada gave us but it wasn't enough"

TC
said

Where did all the money and aids go? This is another example that no one can be held accountable for mismanagement of tax payer's money. A total violation of the people's trust. I don't think United Nations would give free hand-out to the Attawapiskat First Nation. Perhaps try Ottawa again.

Roget
said

His government isn't "respecting aboriginals" because they aren't respecting themselves. What a joke. Get a job.

JT in Vancouver
said

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly the left shifts into full PANDER-MODE. Nowhere do the Liberals or the NDP call for any accountability or explanation to the Canadian tax payers about all this missing money, but wasting MORE tax dollars is no problem for them! Typical Politically correct nonsense!

Why Not
said

Sounds like a great plan, send the Army recruiters in, sounds like there are lots of able bodies men and women, who could use a job, that provides decent housing and food.

Alan
said

Just a minute. Mr Atleo and the AFN are pushing for UN involvement. If there is a crisis why does he not ask and why does Ms Turmel and the NDP stick their noses into it. They seem to have too many speaking for them which at a time of seeming crisis is not what is needed.

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Attawapiskat: State of Emergency

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It is about time - as a grandparent I have watched our kids (who were allowed to fail although I do remember some nagging on our part) learn, I have watched our children now micro-manage their children. A big part of it is the fact that there are predators out there and an extreme reluctance on the parents part to alllow freedom that might result in the children becoming victims.

Harvey

Parents must learn to stop meddling, author urges

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