Auditor Looks At First Nations Emergencies

Canada’s auditor suggests the federal government should be spending more money to prevent emergencies on first nations.
In his annual fall report, Michael Ferguson says the government tends to spend money targeted for capital projects to fund emergency assistance.
Ferguson says the department of Aboriginal Affairs is in a cycle of reacting to emergencies and isn’t focusing on what can be done to prevent them.
He notes 99% of the $450-million spent on emergencies over the past four years has been spent on response, and just 1% on prevention.
Ferguson’s report also suggests that outdated or missing emergency plans are putting first nation communities at risk.