David Gorman, one of the AFN's four co-ordinators for the dialogue, has been visiting reserves to let chiefs and tribal council members know that key decisions are being made about storing nuclear waste that could affect native reserves in the coming decades...While it's obvious that much needs to be done to improve the lot of First Nations, it should be equally obvious that the answer isn't to try to strong-arm them into accepting nuclear waste on their traditional or treaty land.
"I would just say, 'Be aware that industry might approach [your community] to build a facility on your territory and they might sweeten the deal with economic opportunities and money.' "...
The AFN's nuclear dialogue is being paid for with money from the nuclear organization and Natural Resources Canada.
Mr. Gorman would not say how much money the AFN received from the nuclear organization, but the AFN's own summary report of its dialogue reveals the funding arrangement doesn't sit well with some.
Given the current funding disparities as well as the often-higher costs on reserves, it may appear tempting for some First Nations to try to make up the funding gap through a waste storage program. But if so, that only signals the utter failure of the federal government to appropriately provide for First Nations to date. And that lack of funding should be dealt with directly, rather than with nuclear strings attached.
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