Manitoba MP Rod Bruinooge, the parliamentary secretary for aboriginal affairs, raised the two programs in response to a report this week that slammed Ottawa for failing to ensure the needs of aboriginal kids are met.

Manitoba NDP MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis said Bruinooge should have made reading the report a priority but said he doesn't need to read every word to know what his government needs to do.

Oscar Lathlin, Manitoba's aboriginal and northern affairs minister, said on-reserve funding for education -- also a federal responsibility -- is no better. He said reserves get about $5,500 per child for education. Other Manitoba divisions spend in excess of $8,000.