Wolastoqey family fights for care as Jordan’s Principle backlog leaves children waiting

A Wolastoqey Family in New Brunswick Struggles with Medical Care for Three-Year-Old Son

A Wolastoqey family in New Brunswick is facing uncertainty when it comes to medical care for their three-year-old son due to a backlog of Jordan’s Principle funding applications. Stephanie and Ashton Francis, from Tobique First Nation, are the parents of Beckett, who has glycogen storage disorder type 1A. Beckett’s condition requires overnight feeding through a gastrostomy tube every two to three hours to prevent dangerous drops in blood sugar.

Despite support from doctors at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax for a night nurse, the Francis family’s applications to Indigenous Services Canada’s Jordan’s Principle program have been repeatedly rejected or delayed. This program is designed to ensure that First Nations youth can access essential health and social services without delays or disruptions, with the issue of payment jurisdiction to be resolved later.

Last year, the program approved a night nurse for Beckett five nights a week, but the family had to reapply every few months, facing new paperwork and further delays each time. The uncertainty surrounding funding for essential care puts a strain on the family and the night nurse, Carllia Panton, who has been providing critical support to Beckett.

The backlog of Jordan’s Principle applications remains a pressing issue, with nearly 140,000 backlogged requests as of June 4, 2025. The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has ordered the federal government to address this backlog urgently. Indigenous Services Canada acknowledges the delays and is working to reduce the backlog while improving the program’s delivery in partnership with First Nation leadership.

In late July, the Francis family, supported by Wolastoqey chiefs, met with representatives from the New Brunswick government, Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty, and the Assembly of First Nations to share their story and advocate for shorter wait times. Chief Allan Polchies of Sitansisk First Nation highlighted the financial strain that communities face while waiting for Jordan’s Principle funding to be approved.

Stephanie Francis hopes that families with similar medical needs will not have to endure the same challenges in accessing funding through Jordan’s Principle in the future. She emphasizes the importance of prioritizing children’s health needs and ensuring that they receive the necessary services without unnecessary delays.

The Francis family’s story sheds light on the critical need for timely and efficient allocation of resources through programs like Jordan’s Principle to support Indigenous children’s health and well-being. the perspective of a futuristic society where technology has advanced to the point where humans can transfer their consciousness into artificial bodies.

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