First Nations and Public Service Delivery in Canada
First Nations in Canada have legal status as self-governing autonomous communities with elected governments. These governments have a responsibility to their constituents. They deliver public and community services in areas like health, education, policing and security. This work is financially supported by the Canadian government, which has a fiduciary responsibility to First Nations associated with Aboriginal and treaty rights. Given this relationship, the Government of Canada provides funding to First Nation governments to deliver services to their members.
First Nations governments point out that the level of funding for these services is lower than that provided for non-Native communities. For example, the Assembly of First Nations has released a number of studies documenting funding discrepancies in areas of education. As a result of these conditions, First Nation governments are in a constant struggle to secure the funds required to deliver appropriate services.
Funding issues are one challenge in projects associated with technology, including the development and implementation of broadband-enabled public service applications. Many First Nations find it hard to secure enough funding to support adequate infrastructure, applications, training, and ongoing support and maintenance. We consider these issues in more detail in Unit 10, which focuses on policies to support e-Community development.
Another challenge is our lack of understanding of the direct impacts of online public services. Little empirical evidence conclusively demonstrates a direct causal relationship between the availability of digital ICTs and broadband networks, and improved health and education outcomes. In part, this is due to the complexity of generating accurate measurements. The promise of distance education and e-health is also tempered by the persistence of digital divides and social inequalities.
But despite these caveats, researchers and policy-makers increasingly recognize that broadband availability correlates with social, cultural, and economic development. For example, Benkler (2010) writes that “high capacity networks are seen as strategic infrastructure, intended to contribute to high and sustainable economic growth and to core aspects of human development” (p. 11). Arguments for universal access in states like Estonia and Finland go so far as to frame access to networked digital infrastructure as a human right, given its perceived role in delivering essential public services.
First Nations governments also support the potential use of broadband-enabled applications to deliver health and education services. This position is reflected in the work of the Assembly of First Nations, through its e-Community Strategy (described in Unit 10). Across Canada, individual First Nations are engaged in the development and use of broadband-enabled public services.
First Nations in Canada have legal status as self-governing autonomous communities with elected governments. These governments have a responsibility to their constituents. They deliver public and community services in areas like health, education, policing and security. This work is financially supported by the Canadian government, which has a fiduciary responsibility to First Nations associated with Aboriginal and treaty rights. Given this relationship, the Government of Canada provides funding to First Nation governments to deliver services to their members.
First Nations governments point out that the level of funding for these services is lower than that provided for non-Native communities. For example, the Assembly of First Nations has released a number of studies documenting funding discrepancies in areas of education. As a result of these conditions, First Nation governments are in a constant struggle to secure the funds required to deliver appropriate services.
Funding issues are one challenge in projects associated with technology, including the development and implementation of broadband-enabled public service applications. Many First Nations find it hard to secure enough funding to support adequate infrastructure, applications, training, and ongoing support and maintenance. We consider these issues in more detail in Unit 10, which focuses on policies to support e-Community development.
Another challenge is our lack of understanding of the direct impacts of online public services. Little empirical evidence conclusively demonstrates a direct causal relationship between the availability of digital ICTs and broadband networks, and improved health and education outcomes. In part, this is due to the complexity of generating accurate measurements. The promise of distance education and e-health is also tempered by the persistence of digital divides and social inequalities.
But despite these caveats, researchers and policy-makers increasingly recognize that broadband availability correlates with social, cultural, and economic development. For example, Benkler (2010) writes that “high capacity networks are seen as strategic infrastructure, intended to contribute to high and sustainable economic growth and to core aspects of human development” (p. 11). Arguments for universal access in states like Estonia and Finland go so far as to frame access to networked digital infrastructure as a human right, given its perceived role in delivering essential public services.
First Nations governments also support the potential use of broadband-enabled applications to deliver health and education services. This position is reflected in the work of the Assembly of First Nations, through its e-Community Strategy (described in Unit 10). Across Canada, individual First Nations are engaged in the development and use of broadband-enabled public services.
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