Friday Post

Don't forget the poll to the right.



Of course he would say this:

The Harper government is underfunding aboriginal schools and depriving First Nations children of any real chance of success, former prime minister Paul Martin said Thursday.

First of all, it should be noted who has control over education on the northern ghettos reservations:

The federal government has unveiled a retooled education plan for First Nations that it says recognizes aboriginal control over schooling.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper was in Alberta today where he announced the proposed changes that will be tabled under the First Nations control of First Nations education act.

Harper also promised an additional $1.9 billion in funding for aboriginal education starting in 2015. ...

The government says it has designated $1.25 billion over three years for aboriginal schools across Canada beginning in 2016 — an amount that he pledged would increase by 4.5 per cent each year after.

An additional $160 million for an implementation fund and $500 million for new infrastructure on reserves over seven years is also expected to start in 2015.

The proposed legislation promises to give First Nations control of their education system and enables the incorporation of language and culture programming in the curriculum.

It would repeal the provisions in the Indian Act related to residential schools, which is largely a symbolic gesture that follows the apology made by Harper in 2008.

What the government currently gives and who is responsible for it:

First Nations and their regional organizations have responsibility for managing and delivering education programs and services in a number of band-operated schools on reserve across Canada. In addition, AANDC delivers services directly on reserve in seven federally operated schools and covers the tuition costs for First Nation students living on reserve but attending provincial schools off reserve.

Elementary and secondary school support for First Nation students living off reserve, as well as Métis, Inuit and non-status Indians, is provided through provincial and territorial school systems.

In 2012-2013, AANDC invested $1.62 billion in First Nation kindergarten to grade 12 education and more than $331 million in post-secondary education to support First Nation and Inuit students across Canada. This funding was in addition to the approximately $226 million in 2012-2013 to support infrastructure costs for education facilities. This funding supported some 113,000 full-time equivalent First Nation students, ordinarily resident on reserve, in their elementary or secondary education and about 22,000 post-secondary students.

**

The Conservative government's budget, which was tabled on Tuesday, earmarks $200 million over five years starting in 2015-16 "to help support First Nations to achieve better education outcomes, including building partnerships with provincial school systems."
 
But that amount falls short of the $1.9 billion that Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced in February 2014, says Rebecca Chartrand, an aboriginal education consultant with the Seven Oaks School Division.

Do the math. How much off is it for the population and the amount of off-reservation students who successfully complete high school?

It's a cheap shot for a failing candidate before the October election.



Pope Francis is not amused:

When leftist Bolivian president Evo Morales on Thursday presented Pope Francis with a “communist crucifix” – a carving of Christ crucified on the hammer of a hammer and sickle – the Pope appeared to say, “This is not ok,” while shaking his head.

Nope. Not a happy pontiff.



One would think that with all the rapes, Norwegian police would use their weapons more often:

Norway’s latest statistics has attracted international attention.

Last month, the government released data pertaining to the country’s police department and their use of guns in recent years.

According to the report, Police Threat or Use of Firearms 2002-2014, Norway’s police only fired two bullets over the entire year. There were no fatalities or wounded, either.

Ladies and gentlemen, Omar Sharif: