Federal Funding Appears To Be Off The Table

Some bad news is on the wind as word on the final fate of First Nations University of Canada looms.

Advanced Education Minister Rob Norris continues to press the University of Regina and FNUC to sign a partnership deal. He insists the latter school's future relies on it. But Norris also says it appears more than $7 million in federal funding for the troubled school is now off the table. That's coming from his latest conversation with Federal Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl.

"My hands were tied," Norris insists. "The fact that I didn't have an agreement in hand between First Nations University and another partner certainly constrained the conversation."

He's referring to the efforts of a working group that has spent the last two weeks or so trying to hammer out a deal that would see the U of R take over some financial and administrative duties for FNUC. That would, in theory, allow the school to solve some of the governance and misappropriation problems that have plagued it in the last several years. On Friday Norris called on the U of R to sign an agreement, indicating he wanted the completed deal in-hand by this Monday. After Monday's Question Period at the Legislature he indicated that the outcome of that call might have been different were that the case.

Norris insists, however, the school could potentially make due with the roughly $5 million of funding the province normally provides. However that money is also contingent on a partnership deal being signed.

"The legal instrument that we have is going to expire at the end of this fiscal year," he reiterated . "We all know how fast that's approaching."

He points out that other federated colleges in the province, some with larger enrollment, make due on that level of funding or less. He also says there is still a possibility the school could receive grants or application-based funding from the feds.

That suggestion isn't being received well by staff and students at FNUC, however. Randy Lundy, the head of the school's English department, quietly shook his head while Norris talked to reporters.

"He should be going to Chuck Strahl and saying the $7.2 million dollars needs to be on the table and needs to be restored. As far as the proposal-based funding he was talking about those comments are disingenuous at best and dishonest at worst." Lunday insists no school can properly function or budget on unreliable, proposal-based funding that must be applied for year after year. He says financial stability is paramount in running an academic institution.

"What I hear is another commitment not to defend the province of Saskatchewan," contends Diane Adams, President of the FNUC Student's Association. "It's to not defend First Nations post-secondary education. That money needs to be reinstated according to the agreement that's being worked on and dedicated to the FNUC. There's no other way to spend $7.2 million in this province that will be as effective or open as many doors as it will if it's dedicated to the First Nations University of Canada."

Both call Norris' insistence that his "hands were tied" by the lack of a formal agreement simply "absurd."