Justin Trudeau promises $2.6B for First Nations education

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeauwent on the attack Thursday, blaming Stephen Harper for not doing enough to close the gap in quality of life between First Nations people and other Canadians.

"Mr. Harper has done little to improve things," Trudeau saidduring a campaign stop in Saskatoon. "No nation-to-nation dialogue, norespect for rights orfor treaties, no regard for First Nations control of First Nations education, no delivery on desperately needed investments. Just a unilateral, top-down approach from Ottawa."

In his first majorpromise of the election campaign,Trudeau saidthat a Liberal government would invest a total of $2.6 billion in First Nations education over four years and $500 millionover three years ininfrastructure for First Nations schools.

• Tom Mulcair, Justin Trudeau vow to improve Canada's relationship with AboriginalPeoples
• C-51, controversial anti-terrorism bill, is now law. So, what changes?

"We will make up for 10 long-lost years,"Trudeausaid in another not-so veiled swipe at Harper's Conservatives, as the Liberal leader continues hispush to position his party as the one to renew Canada's relationship with First Nations.

Today's announcement builds on the Liberal Party's platform that also includes a commitment to lift a two per cent cap on federal funding for First Nations programs.

"It's time for a renewed, respectful and inclusive nation-to-nation process to eliminate the gap in First Nations education."

Trudeau's plan wouldinvest more per year in First Nations education than what the Conservatives have promised to date, and would accelerate infrastructure spending.

The Conservatives under Harper earmarked$1 billionover five years for First Nations education and $500 million over seven years forinfrastructurestartingin 2015-16.

The Harper government earmarked:

• In the 2015 budget $200 million a year over five years starting in 2015-16 for First Nations education.
• In the 2014 budget $500 million over seven years beginning in 2015-16 to improve First Nation school infrastructure.

Trudeau said aLiberal governmentwould budget:

• $515 million per yearover four yearsin core annual funding for First Nations K-12 education, rising to over $750 million per year by the end of the first mandate.
• $500 million over three years for First Nations education infrastructure.
• $50 million forthe post-secondary student support program, which provides financial assistance to Indigenous students who attend post-secondary schools.

Harperannounced in 2014 $1.9 billion forFirst Nations educationbut the funding was contingent on First Nations' support ofthe government's First Nations Education Act.

Theeducation bill was put on holdfollowing thesudden resignation of Shawn Atleo, the AFN's formernational chief, last year. Atleoquitamid criticism from chiefs who accused him ofselling out First Nations by siding with the government on its retooled aboriginal education bill after an initial draft had flopped.

In an email to CBC News, the Aboriginal Affairs minister's office said Thursday the remaining $900 million is "still available, but as we have said all along, investments will follow reform, not replace reform."

Bellegardewelcomes 'substantive plan'

The Assembly of First Nations welcomedTrudeau'sannouncement, calling it "a substantive plan for action."

"This plan would have an immediate impact and help close that gap by investing in our students and our schools,"said national chief PerryBellegardein a written statement. "All the parties need to step up and make clear commitments to First Nations."

While the AFN did not comment on the other aspects ofTrudeau'sfunding announcement, when Harper announced $500 million for First Nations infrastructure in 2014,the AFN saidit fell short of "the urgent need for resources to build and repair First Nations schools."

NDP Leader TomMulcairhas vowed to call a national public inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women in thefirst 100 daysof taking office,which the Conservatives have refused to do. The Conservative government has opted instead tofund various programsit says help aboriginal women.

The Liberals, too,have promisedto launch a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenouswomen.

Trudeau defends C-51

Trudeauwas campaigning in the riding of Saskatoon West, where Lisa Abbott, a First Nations lawyer, is seeking to win the federal seat.

The Liberal leaderhas been criticized by some First Nationsfor his party's support of the government's Anti-Terrorism Act, BillC-51.

Asked about it for a second-day in a row,Trudeaudefended hissupport forC-51and reiterated his position that a Liberal government would repeal the sections of the law that are of most concern to First Nations.

Mulcairalsopromisedto repeal the Anti-Terrorism Act, which his party opposed and saidhe wouldcreate andchair a cabinet committee "to ensure federal government decisions respect treaty rights, inherent rights and Canada's international obligations."

The New Democrats have yet to publicly cost out their First Nations programs.