Tribunal recommends Ottawa, First Nations to resume children’s welfare reforms

The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has issued a new order in a decade-long case regarding children’s welfare, urging all parties involved to collaborate on reforming the system to prevent further discrimination against First Nations children by the Federal Government.
Nine years ago, the Tribunal found that the Federal Government had discriminated against First Nations children living on reserves by underfunding the services they received compared to those living off reserves. This led to a joint human rights complaint that resulted in a call for Canada to reach an agreement with First Nations to address the issue and compensate affected children.
Despite efforts to reach an agreement over the years, a $47.8 billion deal proposed last year was rejected twice by both First Nations and Ottawa. In response, the Tribunal has now mandated that Canada must either resume negotiations for long-term reform or face the possibility of the Tribunal presenting its own evidence-based reform plan.
Cindy Blackstock, head of the First Nations Child and Family Care Society, has been vocal about Ottawa’s lack of commitment to resolving the issue and has emphasized the need for Canada to prioritize the well-being of children. She welcomed the Tribunal’s decision and stressed the importance of addressing discrimination and ensuring that any reform plan is culturally appropriate and sustainable for future generations.
While Ottawa has reached a separate deal with First Nations in Ontario, the Tribunal has made it clear that this agreement should not set a precedent for the rest of the country and that all proposed plans must meet specific criteria to be considered valid.
The Canadian press reached out to Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty for a statement regarding the Tribunal’s order, but has not yet received a response.
Overall, the Tribunal’s order emphasizes the need for all parties involved to work together in good faith to address the discrimination faced by First Nations children and to ensure that any reform efforts are comprehensive, evidence-based, and culturally sensitive.