Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty made an announcement last month of $55.6-million in “new” funding for the Emergency Management Assistance Program. 

But if the funding is for an existing program that everybody knows must continue, then it shouldn’t be called “new”. It’s really a crucially late announcement that the funding will continue on April 1. 

Every time Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) makes an eye-watering multi-million-dollar announcement, it seems like great news and a cause for celebration. But let’s pause and review.

There are 630-some First Nations communities, so each funding pot will be spread out so widely that it begs the question if it’s really enough money. 

If the Emergency Management Assistance Program supports emergency planning in every community, then there is even less available to support the communities that are facing emergencies in real time. 

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