Deadline for emergency benefit application will leave many First Nations behind
TREATY 1 TERRITORY, WINNIPEG - Today, NDP MPs Leah Gazan (Winnipeg Centre) and Niki Ashton (Churchill--Keewatinook Aski) called on the federal government to do more to keep First Nations people living in urban centres safe amid COVID-19. Existing funding is not enough given the need - and the imposition of an arbitrary application deadline puts lives at risk.
“Indigenous peoples comprise 3% of the Canadian population,” said Gazan. “Yet they receive less than 1% of the funding allocated for COVID-19. This is unacceptable, especially because the federal government has identified Indigenous peoples at greater risk due to long-standing underfunding for essential services.”
“In this time of crisis, the government must ensure that everyone is getting the help they need, including off-reserve Indigenous peoples,” said Ashton. “ Imposing a deadline puts lives at stake. We call on the Minister to increase the funding and waive the deadline.”
A letter was sent to Minister Miller sharing their concerns which can be viewed here.
We can never let ourselves become complicit in senseless violence and violations of human rights and international law. The behavior by President Trump and Netanyahu are particularly concerning, and they must be held to account.
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NDP MPs Leah Gazan (Winnipeg Centre) and Jenny Kwan (Vancouver East) are standing alongside women’s organizations and migrant rights advocates calling on all Members of Parliament to reject the Liberals’ border and immigration legislation, Bill C-12, expected to be voted on at third reading this week.