What one family’s ‘nightmare’ says about the chaos at Jordan’s Principle

In a small townhouse near Lake Couchiching in Orillia, Ont., Katie Maracle and her husband Murray are facing a heartbreaking reality. Their eight-year-old son, Ethan, who has severe, non-verbal autism and epilepsy, is at risk of losing the support he needs to thrive. Jordan’s Principle, a vital program for First Nations kids, has been a lifeline for Ethan’s education. But with a backlog of unprocessed requests and new restrictions being rolled out, the Maracles fear that Ethan may soon be left behind.

For years, Indigenous Services Canada covered Ethan’s education at a specialized school for neurodiverse children. The school provided transportation, clinical therapy, and one-on-one educational assistance. However, recent changes in funding have put Ethan’s future in jeopardy. The Maracles receive invoices of $14,000 a month from the school, and without financial support, they may be forced to remove Ethan from the only environment where he has thrived.

Minister of Indigenous Services, Patty Hajdu, defends the changes, citing a surge in requests and the need for provinces and territories to take on more responsibility. However, families like the Maracles feel caught in the crossfire of jurisdictional disputes and funding cuts. Jordan’s Principle, named after Jordan River Anderson, was meant to prevent the kind of bureaucratic red tape that failed Jordan during his short life. Yet, families like the Maracles are still facing barriers to accessing essential services for their children.

Child advocate Cindy Blackstock views the new restrictions as a cost-cutting measure at the expense of vulnerable children. Service providers like Amanda Baysarowich are feeling the impact firsthand, with over $500,000 in outstanding payments owed to her under Jordan’s Principle. The backlog of payments and delayed funding decisions have forced Baysarowich to consider closing her doors to Jordan’s Principle-funded families, a heartbreaking decision that will leave many children without the support they need to thrive.

The situation is dire, with ISC unable to provide accurate data on the backlog of outstanding payments. The government’s failure to reimburse vendors in a timely manner is not only causing financial strain but also emotional distress for families and service providers. The Maracles fear that vendors may begin rejecting Jordan’s Principle clients, further exacerbating the crisis.

As families like the Maracles face uncertainty and hardship, Minister Hajdu maintains that the program is a success and places the onus on provinces and territories to step up. However, for families and service providers on the front lines, the reality is far from successful. The future of children like Ethan hangs in the balance as funding cuts and bureaucratic hurdles continue to impede their access to vital services.