Conservatives 'discriminating against indigenous children,' Hughes says

NEWS RELEASE

CAROL HUGHES, MP

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Conservatives waste resources spying on individuals while ignoring problem: Hughes

OTTAWA – The Conservative government is spending millions of dollars trying to discredit activist Cindy Blackstock  instead of addressing the funding gap in welfare services for on-reserve children that she championed, according to Carol Hughes.

Hughes, the NDP aboriginal health critic, asked the government to justify the resources wasted by spying instead of addressing the real problem.

“The Conservatives don’t like to hear they are discriminating against indigenous children,” said Hughes. “As a matter of fact, this discrimination really does exist and we need to eliminate it as soon as possible with adequate funding.”

The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) has agreed to look into government harassment against Ms. Blackstock as part of their hearing into the 22 percent (average) gap in the funding of welfare service for on-reserve First Nations children. 

Her organization, the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada, filed the original complaint five years ago that has lead to the CHRT investigation.

“The Human Rights Tribunal must determine if the Conservatives have exercised reprisals,” said Hughes. “Why is the government attacking and defaming those who disagree with them? Why shoot the messenger instead of fixing the problem?”

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