First Nations education funds quietly 'removed' by the previous government, Liberals say

The Liberal government says much of the funding it was counting on forFirst Nations education was quietly removed from the booksby the previous Conservative government, leaving them toscrambleahead of their first budget on March 22.

The Liberals had campaigned on a pledge toinvest$2.6 billion in First Nations education over four years and $500 millionover three years ininfrastructure for First Nations schools.

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"I can confirm that the previous government removed the promised additional funding for First Nations education and which the previous minister confirmed in this House," Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett said during question period today.

Bennett's office could not confirm what the exact amount"removed" from last year's ledger was, referring CBC News to finance officials.

More clarity required from Finance: Page

The Finance Departmenttold CBC News that the budget tabled under the Conservatives in 2014 allocated$1.25 billion for First Nations K-12 education over three years starting in 2016-17.

The Conservatives repeatedly made it clear thatfunding was contingent on First Nations' support of Bill C-33, known as theFirst Nations Control of First Nations Education Act, whichnever materialized.

"In Budget 2015, much of this provisioned allocation was removed but not announced," said David Barnabe, a finance official, in an email to CBC News.

"Of this amount, currently $241 million remains in the fiscal framework for those three years."

With the budget scheduled to be tabled in Parliament in less than two weeks, former parliamentarybudget watchdog Kevin Pagetold CBC News the government is providing "insufficient clarity" on the matter.

"The Finance Department has not been sufficiently clear on how the money was reduced and re-profiled," Page said in a phone interview with CBC News on Friday.

Blaming Conservatives 'doesn't help'

The New Democrats had little sympathy for the Liberals, urging them to own up to their own promises to improve the lives ofFirst Nations children on reserves.

"Blaming the previous Conservativegovernment for their failure doesn't help First Nations children out now," NDP MP Nathan Cullen said during question period.

"Simplysaying that it's the last government's fault, when the Liberals made a sacred commitment to fix the gap, to fund $2.6 billion in education."

Bennett said the governmentwill have to make do without the fundsthey were counting on.

"Although we are saddened by the revelation of the previous government taking themoneyfor First Nations education, we redouble our efforts to actually close this gap," Bennett said on Friday withoutdetails.

In addition to First Nations education funding, the Liberal government has pledged toremove thetwo percent capon funding for First Nations programs.

The federalgovernment is forecasting a deficit of$18.4 billion in 2016-17 and $15.5 billion in 2017-18before any new spending is outlined in the upcoming budget.

The Conservatives did not provide comment.

Last August, the office of then Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt told CBC News that $900 million of the fundingannounced in 2014wasstill available for First Nations education, although it came with some strings attached.

"The remaining fundsare still available, but as we said all along, investments will follow reform, not replacereform," Valcourt's office said in anemailto CBC News. "So we are working with willing First Nation partners to help provide First Nations children with a quality education."

With Parliament adjourned for March Break, MPs won't return to Ottawa until March 21a day before the Liberal government tables its first budget.