Canada challenges order to address Jordan’s Principle backlog

The federal government is facing a legal challenge to address a backlog of requests for assistance at the Jordan’s Principle program for First Nations youth in need. The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ordered Ottawa to act promptly after allegations that Indigenous Services Canada was putting children at risk by delaying processing these claims. The government filed an application for judicial review in Federal Court on the last possible day, seeking to set aside the ruling.

Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu stated that there are legal issues that need to be resolved regarding the summary ruling but did not specify what those issues are. The court filing simply stated that the tribunal had erred in law or issued an unreasonable ruling. Cindy Blackstock, executive director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, criticized the government’s application as a delay tactic, emphasizing the need to focus on complying with legal orders.

The Jordan’s Principle program, endorsed by the House of Commons in 2007, aims to ensure that First Nations youth can access health care and social services without delays due to jurisdictional disputes. The program is named after Jordan River Anderson, a boy born with disabilities who died at age five due to disputes over who would pay for his care. Blackstock and the Assembly of First Nations have been advocating for this program since 2007, with the tribunal recently ruling in their favor.

Despite securing compensation for victims and offers to reform the on-reserve child welfare system, the future of these initiatives is uncertain following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to resign. The government reported a backlog of 140,000 Jordan’s Principle applications, with 25,000 labeled as urgent. While progress has been made since 2016, Blackstock emphasized the ongoing breaches of children’s rights and the need for immediate action to address the backlog.

In conclusion, the federal government’s challenge to the legal order highlights the complexities and challenges in addressing the needs of First Nations youth through the Jordan’s Principle program. It is essential for the government to prioritize compliance with legal orders and expedite the processing of urgent requests to ensure the well-being of Indigenous children in Canada.