The federal government has committed $1.55 billion in funding to guarantee equal access to public services for First Nations children in the upcoming year. Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty disclosed this at a press conference in the House of Commons on Thursday afternoon.
The initiative aims to alleviate concerns about the long-term funding of Jordan’s Principle, which is crucial for First Nations communities. Jordan’s Principle, named after Jordan River Anderson, a child from the Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba, ensures that necessary services are provided to First Nations children without delays resulting from jurisdictional disputes among governments.
Established in 2007, Jordan’s Principle is designed to prioritize the needs of children and facilitate access to essential services such as medical, mental health, educational, and physiotherapy support. Despite its life-saving impact, the program is struggling to keep up with the increasing demand and faces challenges in timely payments to service providers.
Indigenous Services Canada reported a backlog of 140,000 applications for Jordan’s Principle at the end of 2024, with 25,000 cases classified as urgent. The recent funding allocation is intended to address the sustained demand observed over the past decade, while ongoing efforts are underway to enhance the effectiveness of Jordan’s Principle in collaboration with First Nations leaders and families.
However, Minister Gull-Masty has come under criticism for retaining an operational bulletin issued last year that restricts the scope of services covered by Jordan’s Principle. The bulletin excludes approvals for home renovations, sporting events, international travel, non-medical aids, or school-related requests unless necessary to ensure parity with non-Indigenous children. Some First Nations leaders have expressed concerns that these limitations are preventing access to essential educational and mental health services for eligible children under Jordan’s Principle.
The new federal funding, expected to continue until 2027, aims to address the current challenges while seeking to refine Jordan’s Principle in collaboration with First Nations stakeholders.
