Well, first, this is what grabbed my attention in the news. I know, it has nothing, at first glance, to do with FNMI education, but go along with me on this for now. On CBC, it was reported that the federal government is freezing EI payments into the system. Quoting a fall in unemployment as the major factor in this decision. Furthermore, they add that it will be of benefit to small businesses. Here’s the link:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2013/09/09/pol-finance-minister-jim-flaherty-announcement.html
Now, how will this affect FNMI education, you may ask? Well, very smart of you to do so! Those who got jobs and are therefore no longer requiring social assistance got jobs working, for the most part, part-time, occasional shifts. Now, under a previous reform to EI by this government, those jobs count as being employed, even if you only work, say, a couple of days a week, making minimum wage, or 10$ per hour. Now, hold on, 160$ per week seems reasonable, doesn’t it? Sure it does, but the moment you dare having a second job, you’re taxed even more! So, what does THAT mean to FMNI education?
Well, it means children who are part of Canada’s most under-funded marginalized group are pushed even further under the proverbial carpet. Parents will have to go further, if at all, to get employment, and children will be scooped-up again by settler organisms that say they are acting in the ebst interest of the children but when it comes to FNMI children, the best practice is more often then not to leave them in their community and increase funding to social services.
I also find it absolutely intriguing that CBC in French does not report on the same tone as CBC in English… Could be that the CBC knows the current government does not read, speak, write, care or comprehend francophones, therefore, it doesn’t really matter. Just a side moo-point.
What do you think about cutting funding to the social net? I think that the next time Canadians find themselves out of work, they’ll be cheering the fact that this government took away a large part of this net and take this cheer to the streets in a show of just how much they love the situation! After all, the predecessors of this government only created social welfare to last a couple of years, right?
Stay tuned for more on FNMI Education, I’ll keep expanding the topic, I promise!
pizindan 