Angus sounds off on Liberal funding promise to First Nations schools

A New Democrat MP is expressing concern about funding for First Nations Education.

Charlie Angus says has sent a letter to Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett saying he’s worried the hole in education funding is only the tip of the iceberg.

The Liberals factored their election promises of providing 2.6-billion dollars for education over the next four years on 1.7-billion in funding promised by the former Harper government.

But it turns out that money, tethered to quashed Conservative legislation, is no longer available, prompting a pre-budget scramble.

Angus points to recent numbers showing the severity of another issue — dozens of First Nations communities have been under boil water advisories for a combined total of more than 327-thousand days.

He wonders how the government will find the money to tackle that problem.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s office issued a statement this week saying the government’s commitment to indigenous communities, including First Nations children, remains strong.