Unsatisfactory progress on First Nations issues raised previously
Chapter 5, May 2006 Report of the Auditor General
Ottawa, 16 May 2006—Overall, the federal government has made unsatisfactory progress in implementing recommendations from previous reports on First Nations issues, according to the Auditor General of Canada, Sheila Fraser, in her Status Report tabled today in the House of Commons.
"Some of these recommendations address serious issues that are important to health and well-being, including mould in houses on reserves and the food mail program for northern communities," said Ms. Fraser.
The audit focused on 37 recommendations made between 2000 and 2003 in reports that covered economic development, housing on reserves, third-party intervention, health care, the food mail program, comprehensive land claims, and reporting requirements for First Nations.
The report says progress has been satisfactory on several recommendations, but not on several that are most important to the lives and well-being of First Nations people.
"Where our recommendations were implemented successfully, some critical factors appeared to be co-ordination of programs, sustained attention by management, and meaningful consultation with First Nations. These lessons can guide the federal government as it moves forward in fulfilling its responsibilities to First Nations people," said the Auditor General.
The report notes that successful action on the audit recommendations was also linked to First Nations' capacity for carrying out the programs in their own communities and to First Nations institutions that supported economic and social development in the community. An appropriate legislative basis for programs and consideration of the conflicting roles of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada were also important to success.
The Auditor General's Status Report, first released in 2002, is one of the reports from the Office of the Auditor General tabled each year in the House of Commons. It follows up on the government's progress in addressing recommendations from previous reports. The Auditor General concludes that progress is either satisfactory or unsatisfactory, taking into account the complexity of the issue and the amount of time that has passed since the original audit.
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The chapter "Management of Programs for First Nations" is available on the Office of the Auditor General of Canada Web site.
Information:
Julie Hébert, Communications
Tel.: (613) 952-0213, ext. 6292
E-mail: communications@oag-bvg.gc.ca
