Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Minister John Duncan today said that the “third party manager” appointed to manage the affairs of Attawapiskat is Jacques Marion from BDO Canada LLP.
Duncan’s office also issued the following “fact sheet” on the issue:
— The Government of Canada has invested significant funding in the
community of Attawapiskat . However, this funding has not generated the
results that the people of Attawapiskat deserve and all Canadians
expect.— In 2000, the previous government placed the community into co-
management. To be clear, a co-manager is hired by and accountable to a
First Nation. A co-manager is not a government official.— Various Ministers have attempted to work with the community to address
their serious capacity and infrastructure challenges. Since 2006, the
Government of Canada has invested more than $28 million in community
infrastructure in this community.— These investments include $9.5 million in water and wastewater
infrastructure, $9.3 million for education facilities, $4.3 million for
housing on-reserve and $5.4 million for other infrastructure. In
addition, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has provided $2.27
million to Attawapiskat First Nation.— To be clear, while the department allocates funding to specific areas,
it is Chiefs and Councils who ultimately make decisions on how to spend
the funding to meet their communities’ needs.— On October 28, 2011, it was brought to the department’s attention that
five families were living in temporary shelters.— When a request from the community was received we took immediate action.
Within 24 hours of receiving an urgent proposal from the community,
immediate money was approved to address critical housing repairs.— On November 24, 2011, it was brought to the department’s attention that
there were more people living in temporary shelters— On November 28, AANDC officials were sent to the community to carry out
an on-the-ground assessment and they determined that there were urgent
health and safety issues.— On November 30, 2011, as a result of the urgent health and safety needs
identified, Minister Duncan announced that a Third Party Manager will be
put in place.— The Minister also ordered a comprehensive and independent audit be
undertaken to identify how money has been spent and what oversight
measures have been taken over the past five years. If there are problems
identified, the Government will take action to address them.