The federal government says that this income aid is committed to working with the Mi’kmaq first nation in Nova Scotia to improve the program – although Ottawa has not yet provided details on the progress of dialogue.
Indigenous service is in response to criticism of Canada and Canada for Crown-Swadeshi relations and Northern affairs that nations have a gap of more than $ 25 million per year before Ottawa and what they will get from Nova Scotia if they stay away from the reservoir.
Ta’n Etli-Tpi’tmk, a group that represents 12 of the first nations in Nova Scotia, has said that some people living on reserve who trust income aid from Ottawa are being kept in deep poverty due to inadequate assistance.
Canada, a spokesman for the indigenous service Canada and the Crown-Swadeshi relations and northern affairs, said that the federal government has been working closely with the maritime first nation since 2016, which is to develop “culturally responsible systems” to provide income aid, but did not provide details.
Anisirgas Pirgasnathhar said in an email on Wednesday, both the departments are committed to working with “Ta’n Etli-TPI’TMK to ensure that the program is more liable to the needs of the income assistance to the needs of the customers.”
Pirgasnathhar said that because the conversation is confidential, he cannot give further comments at this time.
He did not immediately answer the questions of follow-up what progress has been made with the on-revolution income assistance since 2016, or if the conversation with MI’KMAQ First Nations has resumed.
Ta’n Etli-Tpi’tmk said on Tuesday that between Mi’kmaq 2021 and 2024, the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia were negotiating a self-govarning agreement for social assistance, then Ottawa had stopped talks in 2024, because Mi’kmaq had submitted a plan for a reputation-assess Was.
The group said on July 9, MI’KMAQ passed a resolution seeking that Canada returns to the talks table to finalize an agreement in this financial year.
James Michael, a prominent negotiator with Ta’n Etli-TPI’K, said in an interview on Tuesday that this is a serious issue that affects the health and good of the people living on the reserve.
“It’s not about a handout, it is about to be able to get people out of deep poverty out of deep poverty,” Michael said.
Michael said that the federal government provides low rates for a person as $ 13 per day, not enough to cover food or other basic requirements.
Michael said, “The community supports, people who help other people, and people are pulling their dollars as far as it can go. But I don’t know how people do it, to be honest,” Michael said, many other other healthy foods are finished because they cannot tolerate it.
“Our people are tired of the inter-trauma caused by a minimum-and-a-half-federal income aid program,” said Laroy Denny, the head of Eskasoni First Nation, said in a statement on Tuesday.
For people living away from reserve, Nova Scotia provides basic income aid rate for those persons starting from $ 644 per month, which means they have a bedroom inside the house belonging to someone else. Payment becomes $ 726 per month for a person who is a house rent or owner, and who does not have dependent or is not a student.
This report of Canadian Press was first published on 30 July 2025.
Lindsay Armstrong, Canadian Press