AFN chief meeting Aboriginal Affairs minister over Sask. reserve fire

Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Perry Bellegarde and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt will meet face to face in the wake of a deadly fire that killed two toddlers on Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation.

Bellegarde sent a letter to Valcourt’s office on Friday asking for an immediate meeting to discuss the challenges First Nations face providing fire protection to their communities.

Bellegarde’s request for a meeting was granted.

“We have received National Chief Bellegarde’s letter, and yes the minister will meet with the national chief,” said a statement from Valcourt’s office.

In the letter, Bellegarde writes the federal government is providing “insufficient funding” for First Nations to provide their members with a safe and healthy environment.

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He said the situation has reached a “critical level.”

Bellegarde also plans to lobby the government to scrap a policy that caps annual funding increases for First Nations at two per cent.

“The lifting of the two per cent cap and replacing it with an appropriate escalator is a good place to start,” Bellegarde wrote.

A time and place for the meeting is still being worked out.

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