Current Problems: Child Welfare (1-5)
Exploring Stakeholder: "Government of Manitoba"
Updates on this page: 41
March 28, 2024
Canada, Manitoba point fingers at each other in response to off-reserve child welfare lawsuit
The Canadian flag flies at the Manitoba legislature in WInnipeg. Photo: Jared Delorme/APTN. APTN News: A class-action lawsuit filed by two First Nations women in Manitoba on behalf of off-reserve survivors of the child welfare system is heading to court with each of the defendants blaming the other. Both Canada and Manitoba are asking for...
March 25, 2024
Manitoba to pay $530-million in settlement over children’s allowance
The Globe and Mail: The Canadian Press – The Manitoba government has agreed to pay $530 million to settle class-action lawsuits over child welfare benefit payments. The proposed settlement, which still requires court approval, follows a 2022 court ruling that found the province was wrong to claw back hundreds of millions of dollars in federal...
March 20, 2024
Men switched at birth to get formal apology from Manitoba government
Edward Ambrose and Richard Beauvais, born in Arborg, Man., in 1955, meet for the 1st time CBC News: Edward Ambrose struggles to describe what it was like to meet “someone who is me” for the first time. Ambrose and Richard Beauvais, who were switched at birth at a hospital in Manitoba in 1955, first met...
February 22, 2024
He felt abandoned in Manitoba’s emergency shelters. Here’s what he says needs to change in child welfare
‘We’re putting these children in a place where I wouldn’t feel safe going,’ longtime foster mom says CBC News: One of the only signs anyone was paying attention to Joshua Nepinak during his teenage years was the black book a group of strangers filled with notes about him as they watched him come and go...
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...
June 22, 2023
Manitoba child advocate releases report on fatal police shooting of Eishia Hudson
By The Canadian Presshttps://player.vimeo.com/video/838841432?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479 APTN News: The Canadian Press – A review by Manitoba’s children and youth advocate has determined a First Nations teen fatally shot by police had been unable to get consistent help from various government systems. In her latest report, called “Memengwaa Wiidoodaagewin” or “Butterfly Project,” Sherry Gott looked at the circumstances of...
June 22, 2023
Memengwaa Wiidoodaagewin (Butterfly Project): Manitoba Advocate Releases A Special Report To Honour Eishia Hudson
NationTalk: TREATY 1 TERRITORY AND HOMELAND OF THE RED RIVER MÉTIS, Winnipeg, Man., June 22, 2023 –– The Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth (MACY) released Memengwaa Wiidoodaagewin (Butterfly Project), a special report in honour of Eishia Hudson, who died as a result of a gunshot wound inflicted by a member of the Winnipeg Police...
April 21, 2023
After outcry over baby’s apprehension, Manitoba Indigenous family gets newborn back
‘Wrongful, illegal apprehension,’ sister says after meeting in which Child and Family Services apologized CBC News: An Indigenous family is planning to pursue legal action after they say a newborn baby was apprehended by Child and Family Services without warning. A taxi was on its way to take the mother and baby home on Monday, when a child-welfare...
February 8, 2023
Mother found dead after sharing video about struggles with Manitoba’s child welfare system, domestic violence
Anishinaabe woman pleaded with people to ‘listen to me’ WARNING: This story contains distressing details. CBC News: Family and friends of a woman who died by suicide are looking for answers after the woman posted a live video on social media saying she was a victim of domestic violence and sharing the frustration and trauma...
January 17, 2023
Manitoba still hasn’t acted on some recommendations to protect kids, advocate says
Toronto Star: WINNIPEG – Manitoba’s advocate for children and youth says the province has still not fulfilled some key recommendations aimed at protecting young people. Sherry Gott says the government has made progress in the number of recommendations partially or fully implemented, but among the outstanding ones are ideas from the Phoenix Sinclair inquiry report...
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 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...
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 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 19, 2022
Experts warn ending birth alerts not the only solution to keep Indigenous children with their family
Globe and Mail: Canadian Press – The number of newborns taken into care dropped dramatically as birth alerts ended across Canada, but child welfare experts warn ceasing the practice cannot be the only step governments take to keep families together. “(Birth alerts) really risk being kind of a red herring in the real issue of...
August 5, 2022
AMC Demands Full Restitution of CSA Funds Unlawfully Taken From First Nations Children in Care
NationTalk: Treaty One Territory, Manitoba – Today, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) calls on Manitoba to make full restitution to First Nations children in care for the Children’s Special Allowances Funds unlawfully and discriminatorily taken from them. The AMC makes this call in response to the Province of Manitoba’s unilateral announcement of its creation...
August 4, 2022
Manitoba decides not to appeal court ruling on child benefit payments
CTV News Winnipeg (Canadian Press): The Manitoba government said Thursday it will not appeal a court ruling that found the province was wrong to claw back hundreds of millions of dollars in federal benefit payments to kids in child welfare. The government also appeared open to calls for it to return the money, which Indigenous...
May 26, 2022
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs challenge Bill C-92 jurisdiction and provincial amendments to Child and Family Services Act
NationTalk: Treaty One Territory, Manitoba – The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) calls on the provincial government to work with First Nations before any amendment to the Child and Family Services Act (CFS Act) related to First Nations’ jurisdiction. “The AMC has been clear and direct; government officials must support First Nations led jurisdiction over...
May 19, 2022
Court rules that Manitoba Government discriminates against First Nations children in the Child Welfare System
NationTalk: The Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench ruled that the government of the province of Manitoba discriminates against First Nations children in the provincial Child and Family Services (CFS) system, and that its attempt to absolve itself of liability for holding back the federal Children Special Allowance (CSA) of over $334 million from children and...
March 17, 2022
Class Action Lawsuit for government use of Birth Alerts to apprehend Indigenous babies
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs – Earlier this week, a class-action lawsuit was filed in Winnipeg against the province of Manitoba regarding the controversial and discriminatory practice of Birth Alerts. The basis for the claim is that Birth Alerts are unconstitutional and are a Human Rights violation. “The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) has been a...
November 4, 2021
“Finding the Way Back”
Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth – “Finding the Way Back: An aggregate investigation of 45 boys who died by suicide or homicide in Manitoba” between 2009 and 2018 is a special report structured to reflect the wisdom of the medicine wheel, with four chapters representing the four directions and stages of life: childhood, adolescence,...
October 28, 2021
The Overlap Between the Child Welfare and Youth Criminal Justice Systems:
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs – AMC remains concerned regarding the continued lack of supports in place to ensure that youth in care successfully transition after aging out of the Child Welfare system in Manitoba. First Nations children and youth make up approximately 80% of the number of children in care in this province. With the...
September 8, 2021
First Nations Challenge Bill 2
The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs filed its written submissions in its challenge of the provincial Budget Implementation and Tax Statutes Amendment Act. The submissions of the AMC argue that through the BITSA, Manitoba: infringes the core jurisdiction of the superior courts and breaches section 96 of the Constitution Act, 1867 by having the province of...
April 30, 2021
Report on Child Abuse and Neglect
“Mashkiwenmi-daa Noojimowin: Let’s Have Strong Minds for the Healing” is the first report of the First Nations Ontario Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect-2018 (FNOIS-2018). Objectives and Scope The primary objective of the OIS- 2018 is to provide reliable estimates of the scope and characteristics of child abuse and neglect investigated by child...
April 9, 2021
Cuts to Child Welfare Budgets
Southern Chiefs Organization (SCO) – criticized the 2021 provincial budget cuts for foster care and child protection, with the budget dropping below $500 million for the first time in four years. The province claims that efficiencies are the reason for the decreasing budget, but for too long, children in care, 90% of whom are Indigenous, have...
March 11, 2021
Still Waiting: Investigating Child Maltreatment after the Phoenix Sinclair Inquiry”
Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth – released a new special report, “Still Waiting: Investigating Child Maltreatment after the Phoenix Sinclair Inquiry” that examines the lives of 19 children who died after being severely maltreated while under the age of five. Roughly seven years after the final report from the Phoenix Sinclair Inquiry “Still Waiting”...
March 2, 2021
Infant Mortality and Youth Suicide
The Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth (MACY) and the First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba – submitted a report that discusses “the international and national human rights framework as it relates to structural inequalities and Indigenous children’s right to continuous improvement of health with a particular focus on infant mortality and youth suicide...
December 15, 2020
First Nations challenge “Bill 2”
They filed a constitutional legal challenge against Manitoba’s “Bill 2″. “Bill 2” is Manitoba’s attempt to legalize the theft of CSA money from Indigenous children, the most vulnerable group in Manitoba. It is also Manitoba’s attempt to escape legal accountability for the theft. This is wrong,” said Harold Cochrane, legal counsel, Cochrane Saxberg LLP....
November 19, 2020
“Are They Listening?”
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) – In 2018, without involvement or engagement of First Nations in Manitoba or the AMC, the Province of Manitoba unilaterally passed “The Advocate for Children and Youth Act” that expanded the scope and authority of MACY. As part of their expanded mandate, the MACY is now able to publicly report...
November 13, 2020
“Are They Listening?”
Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth – Issued “Are They Listening?” her first public compliance report summarizing the provincial government’s responses to the Advocate’s recommendations issued in 2018 and 2019. “While there is movement, it is disappointing to note that over a period of two years, only two recommendations for service improvements have been implemented...
November 9, 2020
First Nations challenge “Bill 2”
The Southern Chiefs Organization and the Manitoba Métis Federation along with a group of 19 Indigenous child and family Agencies and Authorities announced their intent to file a challenge to BIll 2 “the Budget Implementation and Tax Statutes Amendment Act” that was passed on November 6, 2020....
November 6, 2020
First Nations Challenge Bill 2
Bill 2, the “Budget Implementation and Tax Statutes Amendment Act“, is passed....
October 7, 2020
First Nations Challenge Bill 2
Oct. 7, 2020 – The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, the Official Opposition Manitoba NDP and the Manitoba Liberal Party, denounce and reject Bill 2 and stand in opposition against the Provincial government’s approach to denying First Nations families and children access to justice. Section 84 of the Budget Implementation and Tax Statutes Amendment Act will retroactively...
September 16, 2020
Manitoba Judicial Review
Manitoba Government – is seeking a judicial review of the Manitoba Human Rights Commission decision to award damages to a First Nations family. “All Manitobans deserve to know what services they can access when they need them, and we believe this ruling confuses rather than clarifies which level of government is responsible for providing health...
August 19, 2020
Manitoba Judicial Review
CBC – A Manitoba Human Rights Commission decision found a First Nations family was discriminated against “on the basis of their ancestry as Anishinaabe people and the disability of Dewey a teen who wasn’t able to access consistent health care on reserve because of jurisdictional disputes and systemic discrimination…The province maintaining the federal government is...
June 15, 2020
Birth Alerts
CTV News – The Province of Manitoba has announced it will end the controversial practice of birth alerts on June 30, 2020 and will instead refer vulnerable mothers and their children to social services and programs. Under the new system, Stefanson said Manitoba Child and Family Services (CFS) agencies will now be able to refer...
April 14, 2020
First Nations challenge “Bill 2”
Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs – are seriously concerned about Manitoba fast tracking Bill 2, The Budget Implementation and Tax Statutes Amendment Act. If passed, the Bill will have serious implications on First Nations children in care. On March 19, 2020 the Manitoba government introduced Bill 2. The Bill is currently seeking to legalize Manitoba’s actions...
March 28, 2020
Birth Alerts
Manitoba Families Minister Heather Stephanson announced that there will be a delay in ending the controversial Birth Alert practice due to COVID-19. On Jan. 31, 2020, the government had announced that child welfare and public health systems in Manitoba will no longer issue birth alerts for high-risk expectant mothers as of April 1, 2020. In...
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...
February 22, 2019
Child Welfare Funding Objections
The government of Manitoba met with the Indigenous Leadership Council (Manitoba Métis Federation, Southern Chiefs’ Organization and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak) for first time in over two years despite a previous commitment to meet every quarter. The heads of the Indigenous Leadership Council met again with Minister of Families Heather Stefanson on Apr. 3, 2019 over...
February 22, 2019
First Meeting with Indigenous Leadership Council in two years
The government of Manitoba met with the Indigenous Leadership Council (Manitoba Metis Federation, Southern Chiefs’ Organization and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak) for first time in over two years despite a previous commitment to meet every quarter. The heads of the Indigenous Leadership Council met again with Minister of Families Heather Stefanson on Apr. 3, 2019 over...
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