Ottawa pulls funding for embattled First Nations University of Canada
08 February 2010 07:03
Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl said Monday his department won't renew about $7.3 million to the Regina-based institution effective March 31.
"For some time now, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada has worked with the First Nations University of Canada to help it address long-standing, systemic problems related to governance and financial management of the institution," Strahl said in a news release.
"There have been repeated delays by the institution to take action on these matters. This situation can no longer continue."
There have been allegations of financial mismanagement and political interference by the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, which oversees the school.
The federation would not comment on Ottawa's decision, but leader Guy Lonechild was meeting with students in Saskatoon on Monday afternoon.
Federation chiefs, in an effort to save the school and rebuild its tarnished reputation, voted last week to dissolve the board of governors and put the administration on leave. Lonechild said an interim, non-political board made up of First Nations academic professionals will be put in place.
The move came after the Saskatchewan government cut $5.2 million in funding - roughly 20 per cent of the university's budget. Ottawa's contribution accounted for about 30 per cent.
The aboriginal university opened in 2003 with the idea that education would be to the future of young aboriginal people what the buffalo was to past generations. But it has been under a cloud for virtually its entire existence.
Problems erupted in 2005 when a federation vice-chief, who was chairman of the board of governors, suspended several senior administrators, seized the university's central computers and copied the hard drive with all faculty and student records.
The federation set up an all-chiefs task force that recommended governance changes, but they were never made.
The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada put the school on probation in 2007. That was lifted in 2008, but later that year the Canadian Association of University Teachers voted to censure the school for "its ongoing failure to resolve the serious problems with the governance of the university."
A provincially funded operational review in January 2009 recommended a smaller, less politicized board. No changes were made.
A wrongful dismissal suit recently filed by a former financial officer at the university alleges there were questionable travel expenses and paid vacation time. A financial audit has been ordered and is to be completed by March.
The Canadian Association of University Teachers, which has been a vocal critic of the school's situation, said the province's decision to pull out its money was the catalyst needed for the Indian federation to dissolve the board and make changes, so Ottawa's decision to also cut funding was bad timing.
"It's just unbelievable," said association executive director James Turk. "It's short-sighted. It's destructive.
"Had (Strahl) taken some action earlier, it might have been very useful as a way of pushing the FSIN to do something like Saskatchewan did. But to do it now after they've made a firm commitment to fix the problems, it serves no useful purpose at all."
Turk said the First Nations University is unique in aboriginal education and Ottawa's move could be the "nail in the coffin" that shuts the school for good.
Saskatchewan Advanced Education Minister Rob Norris said both levels of government have been patient, but there were few options left. He couldn't speculate Monday about what might happen to the facility.
"I think the fate and future of First Nations University is called into question, not because it's not a worthy idea, but because issues of accountability have come to the fore and remain at the forefront over the course of the last five years" said Norris.
Several groups asked the province to restore funding following the federation's decision to dissolve the board and put the administration on leave. The move is a hopeful sign but it doesn't mean the money will flow again, said Norris.
"There are as many outstanding questions regarding what steps have actually taken place as we had last week, so ... I find the early requests for funding premature."
The minister said he has asked Strahl to keep any funds intended for the First Nations University in the province for other aboriginal education.
Strahl said he has told Indian Affairs officials to work with their provincial counterparts, the University of Regina - which has an academic partnership with the aboriginal university - and other stakeholders to find solutions to help students and faculty in the weeks ahead.
"I understand these are difficult times for students and faculty. My primary interest is to ensure that students are able to complete their academic year."
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