Thursday, May 10, 2007

Land claims spending set to drop as potential for conflict rises

Tensions are rising over native land disputes, but federal funds to settle them would drop under newly released spending plans. Basic funding for related settlements is set at about $159 million this fiscal year. That amount is slated to drop to just under $153 million next year and to $143.1 million in 2009-10.

An exhaustive Senate committee report earlier this year urged the Conservatives to commit at least $250 million a year. The alternative, it warned, is the flare-up of more potentially ugly clashes like the one that pitted native against non-native in Caledonia, Ont., last year over a housing development.

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