PACP Committee News Release
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Standing Committee on Public Accounts |
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Comité permanent des comptes publics |
For immediate release
NEWS RELEASE
Structural Reforms to Programs for First Nations on Reserves Are Needed
Ottawa, February 06, 2012 -
OTTAWA – The federal government, and Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada in particular, needs to take concrete actions to make meaningful improvements in the social and economic conditions of First Nations on reserves by addressing the structural impediments that limit the delivery of public services, according to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts’ unanimous report tabled today in the House of Commons.
In an audit included in its 2011 Status Report, the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) examined progress made by federal departments in addressing selected observations and recommendations from previous audits on issues related to programs for First Nations on reserves, i.e., education, water, housing, child and family services, land claim agreements and reporting requirements.
The OAG concluded that, while considerable efforts had been made and concrete actions had been taken in some areas, federal organizations had not made satisfactory progress in addressing recommendations from previous audits. The OAG found that, in a number of important respects, conditions for First Nations had worsened since earlier audits. The Interim Auditor General, John Wiersema, told the Committee that, “For example, the education gap has widened, the shortage of adequate housing on reserves has become more acute, the presence of mould on reserves remains a serious problem, and administrative reporting requirements have become even more onerous.”
The OAG also identified four structural impediments that limit the delivery of public services to First Nations on reserves: lack of clarity about service levels, lack of a legislative base, lack of an appropriate funding mechanism and lack of organizations to support local service delivery. According to the OAG, the government needs to address these impediments to make meaningful, lasting improvements in the overall conditions of First Nations on reserves.
The Committee is optimistic that progress can be made, but believes that significant structural reforms and sustained management attention will be required. The Committee recommends that Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and Health Canada develop a roadmap to address the structural impediments, as well as implementation plans to address the unresolved OAG recommendations.
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