By Chris Brown (CHAT News Today)

update from the pm

More aid for off-reserve Indigenous people

May 21, 2020 | 10:36 AM

The federal government is ramping up efforts to support Indigenous people living off-reserve in Canada.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $75 million “for organizations that address the critical needs of the over a million Indigenous people living in urban centres and off-reserve.”

Trudeau said Indigenous community organizations in cities and off-reserve do crucial work year-round and is even more important during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We need to make sure they have the resources to adapt and grow their services so they can fulfil their important mission,” he said.

Trudeau and the Liberal government have been criticized for a lack of aid for Indigenous people who live off-reserve, many of whom were already among Canada’s most vulnerable people.

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The Congress of Aboriginal People (CAP), which represents some 90,000 off-reserve and non-status Indigenous people, has gone to court over what it says is the “inadequate and discriminatory” funding it has received compared to other Indigenous groups.

In mid-March, the government created the $305 million Indigenous Community Support Fund, most of which went to organizations representing First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities to help them prepare for and cope with the pandemic.

Only $15 million of that was allotted for off-reserve organizations, even though they serve more than half of Canada’s Indigenous population, and of that, CAP, which is seeking $16 million, received just $250,000.

Trudeau said that as the country begins to emerge from its economic slumber it’s never been more important to follow public health instructions.

On Wednesday, Canada’s chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said that people should wear a mask in public whenever physical distancing is not possible. Trudeau asked Canadians to follow her advice and repeated the now-familiar safety measures of washing your hands, stay home and wearing a mask when needed.

“This is the best way to protect both yourself and others,” he said.

Asked about a potential second wave of the virus, Trudeau said the federal government has worked with the provinces and territories to increase capacity for testing and contact tracing should that occur.

He said officials at all levels will be able to move quickly so that a second shutdown isn’t needed.

“That depends on citizens doing their part and it also depends on having that testing capacity and that’s what we’re moving forward on,” Trudeau said.

As of Thursday morning, Canada had 80,544 confirmed cases, 11 probable cases and 6,062 deaths. There have been 1,369,734 Canadians tested.

In Alberta, there are 6,735 cases and 128 deaths. A total of 203,397 Albertans have been tested.