Nearly a year after the plight of the Kashechewan First Nation first received its due public attention, Kashechewan has seen little development while the Cons wait on a report and look for other excuses to avoid building a sustainable community. And in Saskatchewan, the First Nations housing situation has become sufficiently dire for the provincial government to step in with funding to try to make up for the federal government's lack of action in its area of responsibility.
But when it comes to $28 million in capital spending on government residences, including $3 million for 24 Sussex Drive, there doesn't seem to have been any hesitation at all.
Not to say that the latter spending isn't also a worthwhile expenditure. But surely any realistic determination of costs and benefits has to recognize that the human cost on reserves with a severe housing deficit far outweighs any benefit from the government property renovations. And that should result in funding being timed and allocated accordingly - rather than in First Nations once again being bumped to the bottom of the list.
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