INAC spends $40,000 in Europe

Anishinabek Nation Deputy Grand Council Chief Glen Hare is wondering why Indian and Northern Affairs Canada spent more than $40,000 in Europe since 2006.
“They’re supposed to be representing our interests – we’re not aware of any First Nations in England,” Hare said. “We have plenty of funding problems in our own back yard. We don’t need INAC dollars spent in Europe.”
The Toronto Sun posted a story on its website (last updated Nov. 24) detailing INAC’s spending expenses of $12,409 for a trip to Belgium, $6,700 to the U.K, $11,459 for airfare to Norway and $15,560 to the Russian Federation.
Welland MP Malcolm Allen uncovered $125,384,600.67 in hospitality spending over four years from 2006-2010 by INAC.
“This is a government that has talked a lot about cutting waste in its departments, but these numbers don’t lie,” Allen said. “I’m shocked to see hard working Canadians having to pick up the bill for Conservatives to take their pals out.”
Hare called the expenses “jaw-dropping” at a time when First Nations education funding has been capped at two per cent for the past 13 years.
“Just keeping up with inflation and our growing population would require annual funding increases of 6.5 per cent,” Hare said. “This is discrimination against our young people.”
Hare said the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – which Canada recently endorsed – says Indigenous peoples have the right to all levels and forms of education.
An INAC spokesperson said departmental employees travel internationally to advance Canada’s agenda at appearances before international bodies such as the United Nations, circumpolar meetings, ceremonies involving Aboriginal veterans and international meetings on Indigenous and northern issues.
“Consistent with Treasury Board policies, all travel expenses of senior officials (senior employees at the assistant deputy minister level and above) are reported quarterly on the department’s website,” said Geneviève Guibert, media relations public affairs INAC, in an e-mail reply.