Federal Government must address inequalities in FN Child and Family Funding

Coast Salish Traditional Territory (Vancouver) – First Nations Summit leaders are applauding today’s decision by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal in First Nations Child & Family Caring Society of Canada et al. v. Attorney General of Canada (for the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada) – which has confirmed that funding provided by the federal government for on-reserve First Nations child and family services through the Department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs (INAC) is both disproportionate as well as discriminatory.

“The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has confirmed what we have known for many years, the federal government has been failing to provide adequate and equitable funding for child welfare services for on-reserve children. This is unacceptable and intolerable, especially considering there is already a shortfall in overall funding and capacity”, said Grand Chief Edward John of the First Nations Summit (FNS) political executive.

“We encourage the Liberal government to heed this important decision and take immediate steps implement all of the recommendations put forth by the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society (FNCFCS) and Assembly of First Nations (AFN) to address the fiscal inequities, deficiencies in human resource capacity and overall child and family funding insufficiencies are fully addressed”, added Chief John.