Financing Aboriginal Self-Government in Canada

Sherry L. Douglas-Keetch was a library technician in Longford Mills, Ontario.

Marc Malone is a consultant based in Paris, France. He works frequently with the Inuit and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. He is former advisor to the Canadian federal government on Quebec and Canadian federalism.

The Project on Aboriginal Peoples and Constitutional Reform, in 1984, launched research into issues pertaining to aboriginal self-government. The Project also wants to increase public understanding of the subject.

In this book, the inclusion of a detailed contents list, an introduction, appendix, and notes adds greatly to the reader’s ability to understand this complex legal subject. Part I outlines existing arrangements. Part II includes criteria and possible options in financing.

Malone admits that financing is not clearly dealt with in aboriginal constitutional negotiations. In this background paper, he reviews existing financial arrangements — federal, provincial, regional, and local. Four criteria are developed and applied to financing arrangements: effectiveness, efficiency, equity, and autonomy. The author concludes that to finance successfully aboriginal self-government, constitutional change is required.

For serious students of aboriginal peoples and constitutional reform only.