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Edmonton Journal
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
Ottawa says child welfare talks stalled over AFN's 'unreasonable' requests
Federal government told Canadian Human Rights Tribunal there is no 'practical utility' in continuing negotiations with Assembly of First Nations Published May 20, 2025 • 3 minute read The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal at 160 Elgin St. in Ottawa. Photo by Jean Levac / Postmedia OTTAWA — The federal government has told the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal that negotiations with the Assembly of First Nations on reforming the child welfare system are stalled and the AFN's requests are 'unreasonable.' In a May 15 filing to the tribunal, Ottawa said it has made 'intensive and meaningful efforts' to reform the system since 2016 — when the tribunal concluded that the federal government had discriminated against First Nations children by underfunding the on-reserve child welfare system. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors But Ottawa told the tribunal that negotiations with the AFN are 'no longer working' and there is no 'practical utility' to continuing them. 'Canada has met its obligations under the Tribunal's consultation orders, which do not require that Canada consult indefinitely or until the complainants obtain the variable outcomes they seek,' the filing says. Cindy Blackstock, who heads the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society and helped to launch the initial human rights complaint against the federal government, said she is 'disappointed' by the filing. 'It read like a government that did not want to take responsibility for the way it's harming children and is trying to blame everyone else,' she said Tuesday. 'And it's out of alignment with what Prime Minister (Mark) Carney promised during the campaign, which is to come back to the table in good faith and stop Canada's discrimination, and prevent it from happening again to kids.' Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Indigenous Services Canada did not immediately respond when asked why the federal government didn't alert First Nations leaders that it was looking to suspend the talks. Chiefs have twice voted down a federal proposal to reform the child welfare system, saying it didn't go far enough to protect kids from discrimination. Ottawa said that deal, worth $47.8 billion, went beyond the scope of what was ordered by the tribunal. It accuses the AFN and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of making 'extensive further demands.' Chiefs in Ontario, frustrated with other regions voting down the agreement, reached a deal of their own with the federal government earlier this year. In the filing, Ottawa said that instead of continuing with 'unproductive consultations,' it's in the best interests of First Nations children 'to move forward with implementing long-term reforms, beginning with (Chiefs of Ontario) and (Nishnawbe Aski Nation's) joint motion to approve the Ontario final agreement.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The federal government also claims that the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society imposed 'unreasonable conditions on the negotiations' and encouraged First Nations leaders to vote the deal down. 'The Caring Society publicly criticized the very reforms to which it had previously agreed, advocating in favour of their new approach to reform,' the government said in the filing. 'Rather than moving forward to long-term reform, the Caring Society's approach has brought progress to an impasse due to their fluctuating demands and unwillingness to compromise.' Blackstock said the Caring Society has been consistent in its position for more than a year and that if better information comes along, it might change. Asked about the claim that she encouraged leaders to vote down the deal, Blackstock said she did her due diligence by analyzing the offer, as did the chiefs. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Blackstock didn't rule out heading back to court. 'If they don't sit down in good faith as the prime minister promised, and if they don't commit themselves to getting an agreement that stops their discrimination and prevents it from happening again, then yes, it's going back to court,' she said. 'We've been there over 30 times, and the kids keep winning because the facts are so strong against Canada.' Read More 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. 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Vancouver Sun
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Ottawa says child welfare talks stalled over AFN's 'unreasonable' requests
OTTAWA — The federal government has told the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal that negotiations with the Assembly of First Nations on reforming the child welfare system are stalled and the AFN's requests are 'unreasonable.' In a May 15 filing to the tribunal, Ottawa said it has made 'intensive and meaningful efforts' to reform the system since 2016 — when the tribunal concluded that the federal government had discriminated against First Nations children by underfunding the on-reserve child welfare system. But Ottawa told the tribunal that negotiations with the AFN are 'no longer working' and there is no 'practical utility' to continuing them. 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. 'Canada has met its obligations under the Tribunal's consultation orders, which do not require that Canada consult indefinitely or until the complainants obtain the variable outcomes they seek,' the filing says. Cindy Blackstock, who heads the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society and helped to launch the initial human rights complaint against the federal government, said she is 'disappointed' by the filing. 'It read like a government that did not want to take responsibility for the way it's harming children and is trying to blame everyone else,' she said Tuesday. 'And it's out of alignment with what Prime Minister (Mark) Carney promised during the campaign, which is to come back to the table in good faith and stop Canada's discrimination, and prevent it from happening again to kids.' Indigenous Services Canada did not immediately respond when asked why the federal government didn't alert First Nations leaders that it was looking to suspend the talks. Chiefs have twice voted down a federal proposal to reform the child welfare system, saying it didn't go far enough to protect kids from discrimination. Ottawa said that deal, worth $47.8 billion, went beyond the scope of what was ordered by the tribunal. It accuses the AFN and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of making 'extensive further demands.' Chiefs in Ontario, frustrated with other regions voting down the agreement, reached a deal of their own with the federal government earlier this year. In the filing, Ottawa said that instead of continuing with 'unproductive consultations,' it's in the best interests of First Nations children 'to move forward with implementing long-term reforms, beginning with (Chiefs of Ontario) and (Nishnawbe Aski Nation's) joint motion to approve the Ontario final agreement.' The federal government also claims that the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society imposed 'unreasonable conditions on the negotiations' and encouraged First Nations leaders to vote the deal down. 'The Caring Society publicly criticized the very reforms to which it had previously agreed, advocating in favour of their new approach to reform,' the government said in the filing. 'Rather than moving forward to long-term reform, the Caring Society's approach has brought progress to an impasse due to their fluctuating demands and unwillingness to compromise.' Blackstock said the Caring Society has been consistent in its position for more than a year and that if better information comes along, it might change. Asked about the claim that she encouraged leaders to vote down the deal, Blackstock said she did her due diligence by analyzing the offer, as did the chiefs. Blackstock didn't rule out heading back to court. 'If they don't sit down in good faith as the prime minister promised, and if they don't commit themselves to getting an agreement that stops their discrimination and prevents it from happening again, then yes, it's going back to court,' she said. 'We've been there over 30 times, and the kids keep winning because the facts are so strong against Canada.' 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 .
CBC
22-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Jordan's Principle funding for First Nations children being extended through 2026: Indigenous Services
Social Sharing Ottawa says it will continue to fund Jordan's Principle to support First Nations children through 2026, as some First Nations chiefs decry what they call cutbacks in services. Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu announced the extension in a press release Saturday, about 24 hours before a federal election campaign is expected to kick off. The principle is intended to assure that First Nations children can access government-funded health, social or educational services regardless of where they live and without seeing their cases bogged down in jurisdictional disputes. No specific spending amounts were provided in the latest announcement, but Hajdu said the government has poured $8.8 billion into the principle since it was established in 2016. "More than 8.9 million products, services, and supports have been approved since 2016 under Jordan's Principle," Hajdu said in her statement. Jordan's Principle stems from a human rights complaint filed by the Assembly of First Nations and the First Nations Family and Caring Society in 2007, and is named after Jordan River Anderson, a five-year-old boy from Norway House Cree Nation in northern Manitoba who died in 2005 in the midst of a two-year battle between the province and Ottawa over who would pay for his care. Backlog of requests First Nations leaders have complained for months that the federal government has failed to provide communities with vital funding and resources through Jordan's Principle. Cindy Blackstock, head of First Nations Family and Caring Society, launched a non-compliance motion against Canada early last year, and the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruled in December Canada needed to address the backlog of requests, along with creating an independent complaints mechanism. Blackstock was not immediately available for comment Saturday. However, she has accused the government of shirking legal obligations and failing to provide evidence of misuse or how widespread the alleged problem is. Blackstock has also argued that the government takes too long to process requests, leaving children without access to services, and said the backlog issue is a problem of the government's own making. Last week, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs accused the government of failing to live up to its duties by denying requests and cutting back on funds. The chiefs accused the Trudeau government of neglect and called on newly sworn in Prime Minister Mark Carney to rectify what the chiefs called a broken system. The federal government confirmed in December there were 140,000 backlogged requests across Canada, but said the legal order requiring swift action on it would be "challenging" to implement. The government also argued before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal that requests were being made for a swath of non-urgent matters, saying the scope of Jordan's Principle had become too broad and contributed to the backlog of requests. Last month, the federal government announced it would bar funding approvals for home renovations, sporting events, international travel, and non-medical supports or school-related requests unless required to ensure equality with kids who are not First Nations. Hajdu said in her Saturday statement she has asked Indigenous Services Canada to review the contribution agreements of First Nations recipients to make sure expenses incurred under the principle in 2024-25 will be considered for funding. "This review is intended to support partners who are providing critical services to First Nations children through the transition to the new operating procedures related to processing requests under Jordan's Principle," she said.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chiefs in Ontario vote in favour of federal child welfare reform deal
OTTAWA — First Nations chiefs in Ontario voted overwhelmingly Wednesday in favour of a child welfare reform deal with the federal government. The Ontario-specific deal to allow First Nations to take control of child welfare was supported by 76 chiefs in assembly, with four objections and three abstentions. As the vote concluded, Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict said the decision will allow First Nations to end discrimination in their communities and offer better support to families. "We can't wait for a national agreement. It's too important in our communities," he told the chiefs gathered in Toronto. "Yes, there's a lot of work to do, but I believe today is a very momentous moment. Not only are we stopping discrimination in our communities — in your communities — we're advancing your jurisdiction to create more tools to advance your nation." Benedict said he will keep chiefs briefed on developments over the next few months as the deal moves toward federal government and Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) approval. "We will not always get to 100 per cent consensus, but we're building upon the important work that we're doing," he said. "This is not about the Ontario regional chief, this is not about the chiefs of Ontario. This is about each and every one of you as leaders and representatives of your communities … Miigwech and congratulations to each and every one of you." A national $47.8 billion deal proposed by the federal government to reform the First Nations child welfare system was voted down on two occasions last year, when chiefs across the country said it didn't go far enough on eliminating discrimination. That deal was the result of a CHRT ruling that found the federal government was discriminating against First Nations children on reserve because they received less in child welfare funding than those who lived off-reserve. The CHRT ordered Ottawa to work with First Nations across the country to reform the system. The $47.8 billion national agreement was to cover 10 years of funding for First Nations, allowing them to take control of child welfare services from the federal government, create a body to deal with complaints and set aside money for prevention. Chiefs in Ontario voted in favour of the package last year. They gathered in Toronto Wednesday to decide how to move forward with an Ontario-specific deal they negotiated with Ottawa that was largely in line with the terms of the national deal. The side-deal with Ontario has been criticized for months by First Nations outside the province. The federal government told the Assembly of First Nations earlier this year it was not prepared to renegotiate reforms on a national level. The chiefs may have little time to finalize the deal before the next federal election, which could come in early spring. Benedict said last month he was confident an agreement could be finalized before the election because the reforms only need cabinet approval, not a vote in the House of Commons. He is expected to address chiefs again during an official signing ceremony later Wednesday afternoon. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 26, 2025. Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press
CBC
13-02-2025
- Health
- CBC
Canada announces changes to Jordan's Principle program, narrows range of eligible requests
Canada has announced sweeping changes to a program designed to ensure First Nations kids get the care and supports they need, when they need them. That includes barring funding approvals under Jordan's Principle for home renovations, sporting events, international travel, non-medical supports or school-related requests unless required to ensure equality with kids who are not First Nations. The changes come almost a year after the federal government argued before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal that requests were being made for a swath of non-urgent things including modelling headshots, gaming consoles, bicycles and a zip line kit. The CHRT said last month it was "quite concerned" about that problem, while noting some seemingly unusual requests could be made for good reason, including a fridge used to keep medication cold for a child in Walpole Island. "There are modelling headshots and gaming consoles that are being paid for under Jordan's Principle. Even if the Tribunal can appreciate their value in a child or youth's culture, dignity, self-regulation, mental health, etc., this was never what the Tribunal envisioned under Jordan's Principle," reads the Jan. 29 ruling. "It is troubling to know that some communities are living in poverty leaving children in precarious conditions and others would use Jordan's Principle to access services a thousand miles away from the normative standard." Jordan's Principle is named after Jordan River Anderson, a Manitoba boy with multiple disabilities who died in hospital waiting for the province and Ottawa to decide who should pay for health supports that would allow him to go home. It stems from a human rights complaint filed by the Assembly of First Nations and the First Nations Family and Caring Society in 2007. They argued First Nations kids were being denied equal services to other children as a result of the constant jurisdictional disputes. Those disagreements often stemmed from whether a child was living on-reserve or not, as the federal government is typically responsible for funding for on-reserve residents and provinces responsible for funding for those living off reserves. Under Jordan's Principle, families are to apply for and receive funding as its needed, with the provinces and federal government later sorting out jurisdictional battles over which is responsible for the bill. In January, Jordan's father, Ernest, condemned "abuse" of the program on social media, saying kids with urgent needs are seeing delays in accessing funds due to misuse, tarnishing the legacy of a program named in honour of his child. "If your kid was to be used like that, you wouldn't like it," he said in a six-and-a-half minute video calling for a meeting to discuss the program. Cindy Blackstock, the head of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society — who helped launch the initial human rights complaint that led to the creation of Jordan's Principle — said in an interview Thursday she doesn't know specifically what Ernest was discussing in that video, but that everyone agrees the program shouldn't be misused. "No one ever anticipated that every request would be approved," Blackstock said. "The power was with (Canada) — it was their decision to approve these cases." Backlog of requests Canada has argued before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal the scope of Jordan's Principle has become too broad, and applicants are marking non-urgent requests as urgent, contributing to a backlog of 140,000 requests. Indigenous Services Canada announced the changes to the program on Feb. 10 after reviewing its legal obligations. In a bulletin about the matter, the department said it is currently reviewing processes and policies at regional and national levels. "This will ensure more consistent and clearer policies and communications about the services First Nations children can access through Jordan's Principle and the required documentation to access those services and supports," the bulletin said. It also outlined changes to group requests, saying general administrative fees will no longer be covered. Blackstock said Canada's changes to the program aren't evidence-based, and that it's taking an approach that "feeds into colonial stereotypes." She has been arguing to the tribunal that Canada is shirking its legal obligations, and that the backlog in cases is a problem of its own making. Blackstock said Canada has never provided supporting documentation for its claims of misuse, and that there is no evidence of how widespread the problem is. She launched a non-compliance motion against Canada early last year, and the Tribunal ruled in December Canada needs to address the backlog of requests along with creating an independent complaints mechanism. The program has also come under fire from regional First Nations organizations, with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs calling it an unsustainable system of paperwork and approval processes in December, while other groups in the province have said they were at a standstill and owed more than $1 million in funding they paid for out of pocket. "If Canada is going to be narrowing these requests, we need to know on what clinical basis they're actually doing that, and what is going to happen to these children who are left out of the cold now, particularly because Canada has no expertise in many of the areas, like health, education, social services," Blackstock said.
