Federal Court says Canada acted ‘unreasonably' in denying request to repair home
The principle stipulates that when a First Nations child needs health, social or educational services they are to receive them from the government first approached, with questions about final jurisdiction worked out afterward.
It's named after Jordan River Anderson of Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba who died at five years old without ever leaving the hospital because federal and provincial governments couldn't decide who should pay for his at-home care.
Joanne Powless, the children's grandmother, has been trying to get the department to fund mould remediation in their on-reserve home since 2022 under that principle, but was repeatedly denied despite the health effects on the two children.
The Federal Court says the department took an 'unreasonably narrow approach' to the request by considering it as a housing renovation, rather than to meet the health needs of the two children.
Wednesdays
Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture.
The judge says the department's decision to deny the request 'fails to reflect the purpose and intent of Jordan's Principle,' and is ordering Indigenous Services Canada to review the decision.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 14, 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Edmonton Journal
a day ago
- Edmonton Journal
Health Canada approves Ozempic for kidney protection in Type 2 diabetics
Article content In an email, Health Canada confirmed to The Canadian Press that on Aug. 13, it had approved Ozempic 'to reduce the risk of sustained estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline, end-stage kidney disease and cardiovascular death in adults with Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.' Article content Glomerular filtration rate is a measure that shows how well the kidneys are filtering out waste and excess water. Article content Ozempic is the first GLP-1 drug approved in Canada to protect both kidneys and the heart in patients with Type 2 diabetes, said Ur, noting that the cardiovascular benefits of semaglutide have been extensively studied. Article content 'The benefit of Ozempic is that you also get weight loss, which is a very important goal for most people (with Type 2 diabetes). That's a very exciting combination,' he said. Article content Some people experience gastrointestinal side effects when they take Ozempic, Ur said, including nausea, vomiting, constipation and diarrhea. Article content Article content More severe complications can include gall bladder inflammation and pancreatitis, but most side effects are minor, he said. Article content The benefit of slowing or stopping progressive kidney disease in people with diabetes would outweigh the risks of minor side effects, Ur said. Article content The FLOW trial was conducted in 28 countries, including Canada. The researchers randomized 3,533 people with diabetes and chronic kidney disease to either receive Ozempic or a placebo. The study was conducted between 2019 and early 2024. Article content Participants were followed for an average of 3.4 years to monitor for 'major kidney disease events,' including kidney failure leading to dialysis or transplantation, a 50-per-cent reduction in kidney function measured by glomerular filtration rate, or death from kidney-related or cardiovascular causes. Article content The Ozempic or placebo doses were given to participants on top of other medications they were taking, including drugs to control blood pressure and blood sugar. Article content Article content Although reducing blood pressure and blood sugar have beneficial effects for the kidneys, Cherney said Ozempic appeared to have an additional positive impact on kidney function and future research can help pinpoint how that works. Article content 'Another weapon against kidney disease is incredibly powerful. And these medicines will often turn patients around who are doing very poorly because it addresses so many different issues — the kidney, the cardiovascular, the metabolic, and the weight,' said Cherney. Article content Ur said it's possible Ozempic could play a role in reducing inflammation in the kidneys and that might be one explanation for its positive effect. Article content Regardless of the reason for its effectiveness, he said the FLOW trial and Health Canada's approval reinforces the importance of using the drug 'relatively early in the disease process' to minimize kidney damage in people with Type 2 diabetes.
Edmonton Journal
3 days ago
- Edmonton Journal
Lawyer insists foreign adversary is behind Canadian diplomats' Havana Syndrome
Article content A lawyer for Canadian diplomats and their families says he believes the mysterious ailments they suffered in Cuba were caused by a foreign adversary, despite a federal government report that dismisses the theory. Article content Eight years after foreign service officials and their dependants began reporting such symptoms as headaches, memory loss, mood changes, vision problems, nausea and nosebleeds, a legal action against Ottawa over the health problems is still grinding along in Federal Court. Article content Article content Article content The 17 plaintiffs, who seek millions of dollars in damages, allege the Canadian government failed to protect them, hid crucial information and downplayed the seriousness of the risks. The government has denied negligence and wrongdoing. Article content Article content A Global Affairs Canada report completed in August 2024 says the department has concluded that the unexplained health incidents 'were not the result of a malicious act of a foreign actor.' Article content The report, drawing on the work of an interdepartmental task force and external experts, says pre-existing medical conditions, environmental factors and conventional illnesses 'were likely to have been important factors in many of the symptoms experienced.' Article content Article content The report adds that the findings 'do not cast doubt on the authenticity of the symptoms reported by staff members and their dependants.' Article content Article content Paul Miller, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, told The Canadian Press he is 'very confident' a foreign actor is to blame for the Canadians' health difficulties. Article content 'I really trust the people that I have spoken with and met with,' he said. Article content 'I have absolutely no faith in the (Global Affairs Canada) report because they are trying to put out the narrative that works for them.' Article content The plaintiffs' court action, filed in 2019, remains unresolved. Article content Three years ago, the parties agreed to the appointment of a former Supreme Court judge to mediate the claims of nine family members in the case. Article content Miller said the two days of talks in early 2023 'just went nowhere.' Article content He said he has made efforts to file new information in the case but the material is being treated as confidential pending the resolution of concerns about the disclosure of sensitive or potentially injurious information, as defined by the Canada Evidence Act.
Vancouver Sun
3 days ago
- Vancouver Sun
Lawyer insists foreign adversary is behind Canadian diplomats' Havana Syndrome
A lawyer for Canadian diplomats and their families says he believes the mysterious ailments they suffered in Cuba were caused by a foreign adversary, despite a federal government report that dismisses the theory. Eight years after foreign service officials and their dependants began reporting such symptoms as headaches, memory loss, mood changes, vision problems, nausea and nosebleeds, a legal action against Ottawa over the health problems is still grinding along in Federal Court. The 17 plaintiffs, who seek millions of dollars in damages, allege the Canadian government failed to protect them, hid crucial information and downplayed the seriousness of the risks. The government has denied negligence and wrongdoing. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Several U.S. personnel who worked in Cuba have reported similar health issues, commonly known as Havana Syndrome. Theories about the cause have included pesticide spraying, the effect of chirping crickets, malfunctioning eavesdropping devices, and targeted energy or sonic attacks by an enemy state. The Canadian government says it has found no evidence of foul play by a foreign adversary. A Global Affairs Canada report completed in August 2024 says the department has concluded that the unexplained health incidents 'were not the result of a malicious act of a foreign actor.' The report, drawing on the work of an interdepartmental task force and external experts, says pre-existing medical conditions, environmental factors and conventional illnesses 'were likely to have been important factors in many of the symptoms experienced.' The report adds that the findings 'do not cast doubt on the authenticity of the symptoms reported by staff members and their dependants.' Paul Miller, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, told The Canadian Press he is 'very confident' a foreign actor is to blame for the Canadians' health difficulties. 'I really trust the people that I have spoken with and met with,' he said. 'I have absolutely no faith in the (Global Affairs Canada) report because they are trying to put out the narrative that works for them.' The plaintiffs' court action, filed in 2019, remains unresolved. Three years ago, the parties agreed to the appointment of a former Supreme Court judge to mediate the claims of nine family members in the case. Miller said the two days of talks in early 2023 'just went nowhere.' He said he has made efforts to file new information in the case but the material is being treated as confidential pending the resolution of concerns about the disclosure of sensitive or potentially injurious information, as defined by the Canada Evidence Act. The Global Affairs report traces the various steps federal agencies have taken over the years in response to the illness complaints, including security, medical and environmental assessments. A multi-agency Integrated National Security Enforcement Team, led by the RCMP, opened an investigation in June 2017. Global Affairs and RCMP officials began travelling regularly to Cuba as part of the investigation to look at the possibility of malicious attacks, the report says. Canadian officials also shared information with foreign partners, including the United States. In 2019, instruments designed to detect and capture evidence of acoustic and radiation surges, and to measure environmental effects — such as temperature, humidity, barometric pressure and ozone levels — were installed in the living quarters of Canadian staff in Havana. 'The data collected from the instruments did not provide relevant and probative information to identify a cause for the symptoms,' the Global Affairs report says. 'As such, in 2022, the instruments were removed.' The integrated national security team concluded 'there was no criminality and no evidence attributing these health symptoms to a foreign actor,' the report adds. 'In their conclusions, the RCMP and other domestic partner agencies assess that there is no known criminality, no known attribution for (unexplained health incidents) and no patterns related to symptoms, age, gender, location, or other variable.' The U.S. intelligence community looked at possible evidence of a foreign adversary's involvement, the feasibility of tools that could cause the reported symptoms and whether medical analysis could help find answers. A March 1, 2023, report from the U.S. National Intelligence Council said these lines of inquiry led most intelligence community agencies to conclude — with varying levels of confidence — that it was 'very unlikely' a foreign adversary was responsible for the health issues reported by American personnel. Global Affairs, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the RCMP subsequently met to discuss the U.S. council's findings. The RCMP indicated that 'since no criminality was uncovered, its criminal investigation would be concluded,' and CSIS advised it also would be wrapping up its investigations for similar reasons, the Global Affairs report says. Overall, the Canadian efforts 'have not uncovered a clear common cause of the symptoms experienced by government of Canada employees,' the report adds. 'Canada's findings are aligned with the conclusions of the United States on their various health studies and the security report published by the National Intelligence Council.' Miller points to other research and testimony that challenge those findings. Lawyer Mark Zaid, representing several U.S. personnel with symptoms, told a congressional hearing in May 2024 that there was intelligence, scientific and medical evidence substantiating the reports of anomalous health incidents, and that some were caused by a foreign adversary. Zaid, who had authorized access to secret details, said he was convinced that 'the evidence that exists in the classified arena directly contradicts the public conclusions' provided by U.S. federal agencies about the cause of the health symptoms. Global Affairs says it stands by the findings of its 2024 report. Department spokesperson John Babcock said the foreign ministry continues to support the Canadian diplomats and their dependents. 'For privacy and security reasons, Global Affairs Canada cannot comment on the specifics of the ongoing investigations, individual cases, nor on specific security measures,' he said in an emailed response to questions. 'We cannot provide further comment on this matter as it is before the courts.' Internal Global Affairs notes — prepared last year to help answer questions about the department's report — say the unexplained health incidents 'highlighted the challenges of providing responsive health care to diplomats and their families in the context of unforeseen crisis situations abroad.' The notes, obtained through the Access to Information Act, say the department had initiated a 'thorough review' of the department's overseas health program for employees and their dependents in missions around the world. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
