Current Problems: Child Welfare (1-5)

Exploring Stakeholder: "Government of Canada"

Updates on this page: 62
 

March 20, 2024


Conservatives push motion to ‘axe the tax’ at committee meeting on Indigenous child welfare

NDP MP says motion was ‘disgusting’ considering the issue being studied. APTN News: A committee meeting set to discuss the federal government’s Indigenous child welfare legislation was suddenly thrust into a conversation about the federal government’s carbon tax. The meeting started with witnesses from Indigenous Services and Justice giving an overview of the child welfare...

March 13, 2024


AMC looking for answers on cuts ahead of federal budget in April

Groups are asking whether budget cuts ordered across all departments will affect First Nations, Inuit and Métis programming. Photo: APTN.  APTN News: The head of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs says she is looking for answers and guarantees from Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) and Crown Indigenous Relations (CIR) ahead of the federal budget on April...

February 22, 2024


Sts’ailes, frustrated with the feds, signs and funds its own child welfare agreement

APTN News: A First Nation in British Columbia First is taking matters into its own hands after what leaders say has been a lack of commitment from the federal government to help them take full jurisdiction over child and family services. Sts’ailes, a Coast Salish First Nation has been working with Ottawa for years to implement...

February 8, 2024


Indigenous leaders brace for Supreme Court’s child welfare law decision

High court is expected to weigh in on self-government in potentially landmark opinion CBC Indigenous: It’ll be a pivotal decision either way. Indigenous people across the country are bracing for a potentially landmark opinion from the Supreme Court of Canada, which will decide Friday whether the Trudeau government’s Indigenous child welfare law is constitutional. Indigenous leaders...

January 17, 2024


First Nations groups concerned after delay in $20B child-welfare reform talks

Reform deal comprises half of the proposed $40-billion settlement announced in 2021 CBC Indigenous: The federal government says it’s willing to speed up negotiations to reform the on-reserve child-welfare system, after First Nations groups blamed Ottawa for a months-long “standstill,” raising concerns a final deal could be at risk. The high-stakes talks were “subject to a...

January 4, 2024


Ottawa is supposed to process First Nations families’ child services requests within days. Sometimes it makes them wait a year

First Nations families are waiting for as long as a year to have their applications for child and family services assessed by the federal government — even though Ottawa has been ordered to process them within 12 to 48 hours. Toronto Star: First Nations families are waiting for as long as a year to have...

December 7, 2023


Concerns raised as compensation for children-in-care settlement set to roll out next year

“When you think about it, it’s probably one of the single most important committees that will have ever been established here at the AFN…” — Mary Teegee of Takla First Nation Mary Teegee and Regena Crowchild voice their concerns that there were no women appointed to the child services settlement implementation committee. Windspeaker.com: Children living...

December 5, 2023


AFN national chief candidates would back inquiry into Sixties Scoop

National inquiry into removal of Indigenous children could become a key task for next AFN leader CBC Indigenous: Some First Nations chiefs say the next national chief of the Assembly of First Nations should push for a national inquiry into the “Sixties Scoop” and the continued removal of Indigenous children from their families. About 22,000 Indigenous children were...

November 16, 2023


Off-reserve Indigenous children say they’ve been ‘forgotten’ by federal government, seek compensation over child-welfare system

The Globe and Mail: Thousands of Indigenous children who live off reserve have been “forgotten” by the federal government when it comes to acknowledging harms caused by the child-welfare system, the lead representative plaintiff of a class-action lawsuit says. Cheyenne Stonechild, a Cree woman who was taken from her mother at the age of eight...

November 14, 2023


Blackstock sees ‘imbalance’ between $55M lawyers’ bill, welfare victims’ compensation

Imbalance in cash for lawyers, victims: Blackstock Toronto Star: OTTAWA – Cindy Blackstock, one of the people responsible for bringing forward a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal case that led to a historic settlement agreement, says she is concerned about an “imbalance” between what lawyers and victims will be paid. The Federal Court approved a landmark...

October 26, 2023


Government has to ‘keep focused’ and stop discriminating against First Nations kids says Blackstock

 Also on the show, a discussion about state support in the face of conflict. APTN News: Canada has the answers to stop discriminating against First Nations children as ordered by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal and now is the time to do it says Cindy Blackstock. “They actually have solutions on the books and they’ve...

October 23, 2023


AFN Presents Final Settlement Agreement for First Nations Children and Families to Federal Court of Canada

NationTalk: (Ottawa, Unceded Algonquin Territory, Ontario) – The Assembly of First Nations’ (AFN) legal counsel, along with representatives for class action parties Moushoom and Trout, will appear before the Federal Court of Canada today to seek the approval of the Final Settlement Agreement (FSA) on compensation. This will be final step to ensure First Nations...

October 15, 2023


Ottawa fighting to avoid paying $80M in First Nations child welfare legal fees

Federal government calls proposed legal bill ‘excessive,’ while class action lawyers defend request CBC News: Ottawa is opposing more than $80 million in legal fees requested by class action lawyers for their work on a historic, multi-billion dollar proposed settlement for First Nations child welfare, CBC News has learned. Five legal firms are seeking $80...

September 26, 2023


Proposed class-action suit alleges abuse at hands of Quebec youth protection services

Click on thy following link to view the video: Global News: A team of lawyers representing Inuit children and their families in Nunavik and Indigenous children not living on reserves in Quebec are seeking to launch a class-action lawsuit against the provincial and federal governments over discrimination they claim was suffered related to the director...

July 28, 2023


Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Applauds Historic $23 Billion Settlement for First Nations Children and Families

NationTalk: Treaty One Territory, Manitoba – The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) is proud to stand alongside First Nations across the nation in celebrating a momentous milestone in the pursuit of social justice and reconciliation for First Nations children across Turtle Island. “Since the days of the Manitoba Indian Brotherhood, First Nations leadership in Manitoba...

July 27, 2023


Caring Society Statement on CHRT Letter-Decision Approving Revised FSA on Compensation

NationTalk: July 26, 2023 – Canadian Human Rights Tribunal approves $23.4 Billion Compensation package for First Nations children, youth and families This thoughtful landmark Canadian Human Rights Tribunal decision approving compensation recognizes the egregious harms flowing from Canada’s willful and reckless discrimination against First Nations children, youth and families and ensures all victims receive the...

July 26, 2023


Human rights tribunal approves revised First Nations child welfare deal

APTN News: The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) has approved a revised deal between the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and Canada over compensation for thousands of First Nations children on reserve who were caught up in the child welfare system. “The Tribunal finds that the revised First Nations Child and Family Services, Jordan’s Principle...

June 28, 2023


Backlog at federal Indigenous children’s program leaves families to shoulder heavy bills

Families, service providers take drastic measures to stay afloat under Jordan’s Principle CBC News: First Nations families and service providers are covering hundreds of thousands of dollars in health-related bills while they wait for an overwhelmed federal program to reimburse them, CBC News has learned. Indigenous Services Canada says it is facing unprecedented demand under the...

March 24, 2023


MNBC Starts a Judicial Review Against the Minister of Indigenous Services

NationTalk: Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) has started a Judicial Review against the Minister of Indigenous Services to exercise jurisdiction over Métis child and family services. Canada is denying MNBC an opportunity to design and deliver child and family service solutions that best suit the needs of Métis kids in BC, saying MNBC does not...

March 14, 2023


First Nations sue Canada over child-welfare system’s destruction of culture, language

Proposed class action seeks collective compensation for community-level harms CBC News: Ten Prairie-based First Nations are suing the Canadian government over the loss of language, culture and tradition inflicted on communities by the modern First Nations child-welfare system. Chief David Crate of Fisher River Cree Nation north of Winnipeg is the lead plaintiff in the proposed class-action lawsuit filed...

March 13, 2023


Years of abuse in Cambridge Bay group home went ignored, lawsuit alleges

Eight people say they were sexually assaulted and beaten by a couple who ran the home in the ‘70s, ‘80s WARNING: This story discusses the physical and sexual abuse of children. CBC News: On a dusty plot of land in the western Arctic community of Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, sits a slightly out-of-place modern looking building...

March 9, 2023


Stop the discrimination and prevent it from re-occurring: Updates on the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal case – Caring Society

NationTalk: INTRODUCTION: In 2007, the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society (Caring Society) and the Assembly of First Nations(AFN) filed a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission alleging that Canada was discriminating against First Nations children by improperly funding child welfare on reserve and in the Yukon and failing to implement the full...

March 8, 2023


‘A better way’: An Indigenous alternative to Ontario’s faltering child-welfare system

Global News: Ethan Pokno’s knee shakes nervously as he recalls the moment he says his whole life flashed before him. He was 12 years old. He and his three younger brothers were sent to foster homes and — for Ethan and the second-oldest brother — ultimately a group home a 10-hour drive away. “Still scars...

March 7, 2023


Métis Nation B.C. in court after feds say it doesn’t qualify as ‘Indigenous governing body’

Canada sparked dispute by rejecting MNBC bid to opt into Indigenous child-welfare law CBC News: The Canadian government is blocking a bid by the Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) to opt into federal Indigenous child-welfare law on the grounds MNBC doesn’t qualify as an “Indigenous governing body,” Federal Court files show. The decision sparked an ongoing...

February 14, 2023


First Nations child-welfare talks yield ‘substantial progress’ toward amended settlement

Drafting of revised $20B deal to be finalized over the next few weeks, letter says CBC News: The Canadian government and the Assembly of First Nations are reporting “substantial progress” toward revising a proposed $20-billion settlement package for victims of the chronically underfunded on-reserve child-welfare system, court records say. All parties in the ongoing class-action lawsuit “have agreed...

January 25, 2023


Ottawa to begin ‘intense’ talks to rewrite First Nations child welfare compensation deal

The goal of the two-day meeting next month is to reach a partial or complete resolution CBC News: Ottawa will attempt to renegotiate its $20-billion compensation package for people affected by the First Nations child welfare system, court records say. Federal officials are expected to begin “intense confidential discussions” on Feb. 7 and 8 to re-work...

January 6, 2023


Sixties Scoop survivor reconnects with birth mom, discovers her culture, decades after separation

It took many years for the pair to develop a mother-daughter relationship  WARNING: This story contains distressing details CBC News: Tauni Sheldon remembers the first time she saw her biological mom. Sheldon was 23 years old.  It was 1993 and she was in the Winnipeg airport, having just flown in with her adoptive parents, Jim...

January 2, 2023


2023 will be a pivotal year for Indigenous child welfare on both sides of the border

Two cases could establish who has the right to decide what’s best for Indigenous kids in North America CBC NEWS: The highest courts in Canada and the United States are expected to decide child welfare cases this year that could have far-reaching implications for Indigenous rights on both sides of the border. In Brackeen v. Haaland,...

January 1, 2023


Denial rates of services and supports for First Nations children varied drastically by region during the pandemic

The Globe and Mail: Marsha McLeod In 2007, just before the House of Commons rose for its Christmas break, parliamentarians voted unanimously to adopt a principle meant to put the needs of First Nations children ahead of bureaucratic government conveniences. Jean Crowder, the then-MP who brought forward the motion to adopt Jordan’s Principle, warned her parliamentary colleagues...

December 22, 2022


Human rights tribunal says Indigenous Services minister, AFN misled public on $20B child welfare deal

Federal minister, national First Nations advocacy organization didn’t say some victims would be left out CBC News: Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu and the Assembly of First Nations misled the public by not disclosing the fact that their $20-billion child welfare compensation deal left out some victims and reduced payments for others, says the Canadian...

December 12, 2022


N.W.T. says federal Indigenous child and families act infringes on territorial authority

CBC News: N.W.T. government leaders are defending a decision by the territory’s attorney general to join a Supreme Court of Canada challenge of the federal law that gives Indigenous governments power to control their own child and family services. That law includes a provision that Indigenous law prevails in disputes with a province or territory. The Northwest...

December 9, 2022


AFN First Nations-in-Assembly pass resolution by consensus on compensation for children and families

Assembly of First Nations: Ottawa, ON) – The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) announced that First Nations-in-Assembly have passed two crucial resolutions this week directing the AFN on a path forward on compensation and long-term reform. One resolution advances the AFN’s priorities on securing compensation for First Nations children and families who experienced egregious harms...

December 2, 2022


Caring Society Briefing: Canada and AFN seek judicial review of the CHRT Letter – Decision on the class action Final Settlement Agreement

NationTalk: On October 24, 2022, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (Tribunal) issued a Letter-Decision stating that the class action Final Settlement Agreement (FSA) signed by Canada, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), and other class action parties, does not fully satisfy its compensation orders stemming from 2019 CHRT 39 and upheld by the Federal Court...

November 28, 2022


Update on Compensation and Long-Term Reform to the First Nations Child and Family Services Program and Jordan’s Principle

Assembly of First Nations: SUMMARY:   On November 23, 2022, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) filed an application for judicial review of the recent Canadian Human Rights Tribunal’s (CHRT) decision regarding a proposed settlement on the payment of compensation to victims of Canada’s discrimination under the First Nations Child and Family Services Program and Jordan’s...

November 25, 2022


Update on Compensation and Long-Term Reform to the First Nations Child and Family Services Program and Jordan’s Principle

SUMMARY:   On November 23, 2022, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) filed an application for judicial review of the recent Canadian Human Rights Tribunal’s (CHRT) decision regarding a proposed settlement on the payment of compensation to victims of Canada’s discrimination under the First Nations Child and Family Services Program and Jordan’s Principle. The AFN signed...

November 24, 2022


‘Contrary to reconciliation’: Ottawa sending mixed message about deal to compensate First Nations children, advocate charges

Ottawa says its latest move doesn’t mean compensation will be blocked from flowing to children and families harmed by Canada’s discriminatory on-reserve child welfare system. Toronto Star: OTTAWA—For Cindy Blackstock, the federal government’s move to seek a judicial review of a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruling that rejected part of a First Nations child welfare...

November 23, 2022


Canada to seek judicial review of tribunal ruling on child welfare deal

APTN News: Indigenous Services Canada: The minister of Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)says Canada will seek a judicial review of a ruling from the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) that refused to endorse a $20-billion deal that was reached with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN). The money in the Final Settlement Agreement, or FSA, was...

November 18, 2022


AFN hasn’t ruled out court challenge to tribunal’s child welfare decision, regional chief says

Legal clocks are ticking for Ottawa, AFN following tribunal’s refusal to declare compensation order fulfilled Brett Forester · CBC News · Posted: Nov 18, 2022 4:00 AM ET | Last Updated: November 18 The Assembly of First Nations hasn’t ruled out taking the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal to court over its rejection of a multi-billion-dollar proposed class-action settlement with...

October 26, 2022


FNLC calls on Canada to reengage with negotiating parties in light of the CHRT’s decision regarding the Final Settlement Agreement

NationTalk: (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C.) The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has released its decision regarding the Final Settlement Agreement (“FSA”) regarding compensation for the victim/survivor class members of the child welfare system. There were two key aspects of the CHRT’s decision, one is confirmation that not all classes of victims/survivors are...

October 25, 2022


Update on Canadian Human Rights Tribunal Decision on the Final Settlement Agreement on Compensation

SUMMARY: On October 25, 2022, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) released a letter decision, a summary of its reasons for its decision, confirming that it would not endorse the Final Settlement Agreement (FSA) on Compensation. The CHRT found that the FSA substantially, but not completely, satisfies its orders related to compensation of certain groups...

October 25, 2022


Ottawa’s $40B First Nations child welfare deal torpedoed by Canadian Human Rights Tribunal

Tribunal says Ottawa’s deal leaves some children out, short-changes others CBC: A key part of a $40 billion dollar First Nations child welfare agreement described as “historic” by the federal government could unravel following a ruling Tuesday by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. The tribunal rejected Ottawa’s $20 billion offer to compensate First Nations children...

October 6, 2022


AMC sues Manitoba, Canada for $1B over damage caused by child welfare system

The lawsuit seeks to compensate children who were taken off reserve. APTN: The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) is suing the federal and Manitoba governments over what they say are far-reaching and damaging effects of the child welfare system. “Manitoba and Canada received consistent advice and warnings, including from their own experts, that they were...

September 22, 2022


AFN Bulletin – Update on First Nations Child and Family Services and Jordan’s Principle Compensation

Assembly of First Nations: SUMMARY:   The AFN appeared before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) on September 15 and 16, 2022, to seek the CHRT’s endorsement of the $20-billion Final Settlement Agreement to compensate First Nations children and families harmed by discriminatory underfunding of the First Nations Child and Family Services Program and for the...

September 21, 2022


‘The bond is broken’: Data shows Indigenous kids overrepresented in foster care

Statistics Canada released data from the 2021 census showing Indigenous children accounted for 53.8 per cent of all children in foster care. Toronto Star: WINNIPEG – A Winnipeg mother says she was scarred for life when her first child was taken away at birth by social workers, who told her she was unfit to parent...

September 15, 2022


First Nations Child & Family Caring Society Statement: September 15, 2022

The following is in response to the Attorney General of Canada (Canada) and the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) compensation motion being heard by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal today and tomorrow. In February of 2021, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) ordered Canada to pay $40,000 in human rights compensation to First Nations children,...

July 4, 2022


Final settlement agreement reached in $20B First Nations child welfare class action

Deal signed following six months of confidential negotiations but still must be approved by the court and human rights tribunal APTN: The Canadian government and class-action lawyers have reached a final settlement agreement that, if approved, would see $20 billion paid out to victims of the country’s purposefully underfunded First Nations child-welfare system. Thousands of...

June 21, 2022


Off-reserve Indigenous children’s class-action approved

Toronto Star: The Federal Court of Canada has certified a class-action lawsuit against the federal government on behalf of off-reserve Indigenous children who were taken from their families and placed in non-Indigenous care. In a decision released online Monday, Federal Court Judge Michael Phelan ruled the class period will cover from Jan. 1, 1992 to...

June 14, 2022


Anishinabek Nation response to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child report on welfare of Indigenous children

ANISHINABEK NATION HEAD OFFICE (June 14, 2022) – On behalf of the Anishinabek Nation, Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe and Children’s Commissioner Ogimaa Duke Peltier have issued a statement in response to the recent report released by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child expressing deep concerns about the welfare of Indigenous children...

March 17, 2022


Québec Constitution Challenge to Bill C-92: AFN supports appeal to Supreme Court

The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) announced today that it stands with First Nations in Quebec and all First Nations’ jurisdiction over child and family law. “Taking the Act to the Supreme Court presents an opportunity for the full recognition and affirmation of First Nations Inherent rights, as well as the exercise of this jurisdiction,...

February 11, 2022


Québec Constitution Challenge to Bill C-92

CBC – The Quebec Court of Appeal issued a decision yesterday finding the law constitutional apart from two key sections that relate to Aboriginal self-government and child and family services that it ruled are unconstitutional. The court took issue with the section of the law that allows Indigenous child welfare laws to supersede provincial laws...

February 10, 2022


Quebec Court of Appeal rules against two sections of Bill C-92

The Court of Appeal of Québec ruled on Feb. 10, 2022 that Bill C-92 “is constitutional, except for ss. 21 and 22(3), which are not”. These sections deal with the right of Aboriginal self-government and the regulation of Child and Family Services. As Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, professor of law at the Peter Allard School of Law at...

January 26, 2022


CHRT Judicial Reviews

First Judicial Review: Ruling on immediate relief concerning Jordan’s Principle, cited as 2017 CHRT 14 (“the May 26th Orders”). On June 23, 2017, Canada filed an application for judicial review of certain aspects of the May 26th Orders, seeking to quash paragraphs thereof prohibiting Canada from engaging in case conferencing and requiring Canada to complete...

January 4, 2022


Two Agreements-in-Principle

Federal Government – In a total settlement package valued at $40 billion, the AFN, the Government of Canada and other parties signed two Agreements-in-Principle on December 31, 2021. First Agreements-in-Principle proposes a total settlement of $20 billion in compensation to First Nations children and families impacted by discrimination through the FNCFS program and the improper...

October 29, 2021


Federal Government’s Protective Appeal

Toronto Star – The federal government has launched a “protective appeal” of the Federal Court’s Sept. 29, 2021 decision dismissing Ottawa’s appeals of two human rights tribunal rulings concerning First Nations child welfare compensation and protection. The court upheld a 2019 ruling of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal that ordered Ottawa to pay $40,000 —...

August 26, 2021


Compliance and Procedural Orders

On August 26, 2021, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal issued a letter-decision to clarify and reinforce previous rulings for the purpose of ongoing negotiations and communication between all the parties. The CHRT confirms that funding of buildings and additional capital assets that support the delivery of FNCFS and Jordan’s Principle programs and prevention services must...

November 5, 2020


Jordan’s Principle Expenses

Oakville Beaver – This past June, Jordan’s Principle abruptly cut funding for his daughter’s treatment, saying it was “too expensive,” said the girl’s father, Stephen Paquette, Indigenous Knowledge Guide for the Halton District School Board. Despite repeated requests, Indigenous Services Canada has so far refused to provide any budgetary guidance so he can find less...

December 20, 2019


Québec Constitution Challenge to Bill C-92

Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Perry Bellegarde says the Government of Quebec’s decision to request that the Quebec Court of Appeal rule on the constitutionality of Bill C-92, the Indigenous child welfare act, is a setback that will further harm First Nations children and families. This move could lead to delay and conflict,...

October 6, 2019


Federal Government asks for Judicial Review of CHRT decision

The federal government has asked for a judicial review of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) decision to award $2B in damages to approximately 53,000 Indigenous children and youth wrongly removed or denied essential services. The CHRT panel found that the government racially discriminated against First Nations children in care in a willful and reckless manner. As a result, the CHRT ordered...

September 25, 2019


Deaths of Indigenous Children in Child Welfare

72 Indigenous children connected to child welfare died in northern Ontario, where three Indigenous agencies covering most of the territory were underfunded approximately $400 million over a five-year period. The number of deaths jumps to 102 Indigenous children when looking at the entire province between 2013 to 2017. Almost half of the deaths, 48 in...

September 6, 2019


Federal Government asks for Judicial Review of CHRT decision

Canadian Human Rights Tribunal Citation: 2019 CHRT39, File No.: T1340/7008  We believe that the Creator has entrusted us with the sacred responsibility to raise our families…for we realize healthy families are the foundation of strong and healthy communities. The future of our communities lies with our children, who need to be nurtured within their families...

March 21, 2019


Yellowhead Institue Critique of Bill C-92

“Bill C-92, An Act respecting First Nations, Métis and Inuit children, youth and families” was graded as follows by the Yellowhead Institute of Ryerson University based on analysis by five Indigenous legal scholars. (See also First Nations Child and Family Caring Society Information Brief in C2A # 4) GRADES: National Standards: …………………… C Funding: ……………………………………..F...

January 26, 2016


Canadian Human Rights Tribunal

The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) released a ruling (2016 CHRT 2) that found Canada discriminates against First Nations children by providing less child welfare funding to help keep them safe and by not implementing Jordan’s Principle to give them the services they need, when they need them. The CHRT ordered Canada to immediately stop...

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