You knew this was coming

Right on cue, AFN Chief Perry Bellegarde is calling for more money because of the virus.  He calls it "support", but we know what that means:  $$$$$$$  This would be over-and-above the billions they get every year because they refuse to move off the reserves.

And why do they refuse to move off the reserves?  Because that's how they get money.  See how that works?  It's a chicken-and-egg deal.  Here's a headline in today's Globe:

Perry says unhealthy housing is a problem, but what he neglects to point out is that natives also get millions in housing allowances, which they spend on.......on.......on??  Just ask Charmaine Stick what the chiefs in her band spend on it.  From the Onion Lake Reserve, she has been fighting in court to force her leaders to make expenses public.  Guess what?  Isn't happening.  Here's Perry's take:

The "mouldy and unsafe" housing is because the generous housing allowances aren't spent to fix them.  And "timely access to health care" is not happening because......they live in the middle of nowhere!  Poor, old Jean Chretien really got it in the neck a few years ago when he suggested natives move off the reserves.  Boy, did he shut up fast!

The fact is that more that $7 billion is given each year to natives.  They also have a trust fund, held in common, but allotted to individual bands, of......wait for it.......$2 trillion!!  And that $2 trillion earns more than $35 billion in interest every year!

There are so many myths around the native file that's it's outrageous.  So, please folks, get a grip when Perry says he needs more money.  Ottawa -- that's you and me -- spends 75% more on each native than it spends on the rest of us.