Thread by @sunnshiiny

@UncleBeebaw Demagoguery is not opposition. It’s trickery. It’s fallacious finger pointing and character assassination to win support.

That’s not opposition. That’s negative campaigning. If you don’t know the difference, I can’t help you.

@UncleBeebaw There is no claim being made that the problem is longstanding. There’s no denial of federal government responsibility.

But it’s a lie and blatant misrepresentation of facts to state LPC did not respond immediately to the request for help from MP Qaqqaq.

@UncleBeebaw MP Qaqqaq requested $500 Million to address the housing needs of Inuit communities. The article states LPC has committed more than she requested. Through multiple programs. But rather than accept the LPC response, she accuses the sitting government of ignoring the situation.

@UncleBeebaw But LPC did not ignore the dire circumstances. The federal govt responded immediately. As immediately as a federal government can respond. Through existing and new programs designed to meet the need. Additionally, with special consideration for the Inuit crisis.

@UncleBeebaw MP Qaqqaq’s complaint is not about the amount of funding made available. Her complaint is actually about the expectation that $500 Million wasn’t made available in an immediate transfer with no strings attached. Only $25 Million was provided to address urgent crises.

@UncleBeebaw The rest of the funds totalling more than $500 Million are program specific. Meaning criteria need to be met to access the funds. And those funds can ONLY be used for the approved circumstances. They can not be redirected to other issues.

@UncleBeebaw That’s her complaint. That PMJT didn’t write a cheque for $500 Million for Inuit government to spend as they saw fit.

The issue is related to self governance and Inuit leaders’ demands for nation to nation vs government to government relations.

@UncleBeebaw The accusation MP Qaqqaq is making is about the Inuit community’s self determination, and LPC’s inability to just hand over a lump of cash for Inuit to then decide how to use.

@UncleBeebaw LPC is treating the Inuit governing authority like any other Canadian government. Not like a foreign nation. That’s what MP Qaqqaq’s complaint is all about.

@UncleBeebaw Instead of LPC handing over $500 Million, like an emergency aid grant to a foreign sovereign nation, LPC is making the funds available through existing govt to govt transfers. Using the same requirements all other governments are required to use to access federal funds.

@UncleBeebaw That’s the issue.

It isn’t that funds weren’t made available. It’s how they were made available.

But the public is being told by NDP MP Qaqqaq and a CPC backbencher that LPC is ignoring its responsibility to address the situation. Which is a lie. A blatant lie.

@UncleBeebaw LPC responded immediately, and with more than what was requested, to a dire housing shortage and infrastructure failure. Again, new housing won’t appear overnight. Repairs to existing structures won’t be completed immediately. Logistics and organization of efforts is required.

@UncleBeebaw You see, I’m indigenous too. And I’m well aware that some indigenous people want nation to nation status and to bypass the federal government transfer expectations.

Like premiers of Ontario and Alberta. Federal funds for specific Covid needs were made available to all provinces.

@UncleBeebaw But Ford and Kenney refused to access the funds because they came with attached expectations on what could be funded.

Instead they allowed the funds to lapse and citizens in those provinces did not receive additional money for school safety measures, and other urgent needs.

@UncleBeebaw Over a turf war between levels of government, citizens lives were put at risk so those premiers could categorically refuse to meet the required expectations for the use of the available funding. They too said “just hand over the cash with no strings attached.”

@UncleBeebaw But that’s not how targeted funding works. In Canada or any other nation.

When the federal government makes funds available for specific causes, there are limitations on the governments who access those funds. Namely, expenses must be directly related to the specified issue.

@UncleBeebaw Provincial authorities can’t accept federal funds for housing and then spend it on tax breaks or another unrelated issue. There are limits to governments accessing federal funding. And rightly so. The federal government is accountable to all Canadians and thus taxpayers.

@UncleBeebaw So your accusations of me making a false claim fall on deaf ears.

I know what I’m speaking about and I know exactly what this grift is all about. And I can explain it to all Canadians in easy to understand language.

@UncleBeebaw NDP is aiding a sub faction of indigenous leaders to undermine legitimate federal authority to dispense funds with required expectations on their use to address specific issues.

NDP is attempting to force the federal govt to adopt a narrow definition of nation to nation.

@UncleBeebaw NDP is attempting to redefine the constitutional authority of the federal government based on ideological beliefs about the rights and freedoms of indigenous peoples. Specifically, First Nations and Inuit peoples.

@UncleBeebaw Because they are not advocating for a nation to nation relationship for Métis and non status First Nations to be observed. Just a radical sub faction of First Nations and Inuit leaders who want sovereign status and to be excused from Canadian laws and the federal system.

@UncleBeebaw A request most Canadians reject on a provincial level (reflected in loss of support for Ford and Kenney) and poorly understand that it’s now being requested by some FN and Inuit leaders.

@UncleBeebaw The bottom message is:

NDP is actively undermining Canadian federalism in cooperation with a sub faction of libertarian Indigenous leaders and provincial and federal conservatives (who are actually right libertarian) with the same intent. Destroying democracy in the process.

@UncleBeebaw @threadreaderapp please compile