The federal government has committed $1.55 billion in funding to guarantee equitable access to public services for First Nations children within the upcoming year. The announcement was made by Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty during a news conference held in the House of Commons on Thursday.
In a statement preceding the news conference, Minister Gull-Masty emphasized that this financial pledge aims to alleviate concerns raised regarding the ongoing funding of Jordan’s Principle, ensuring stability for First Nations communities. She stressed the importance of making Jordan’s Principle efficient and reliable for those who rely on it, promising to collaborate with First Nations leadership and families to maintain its fairness and respect.
Jordan’s Principle, named after Jordan River Anderson from the Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba, who tragically passed away at the age of five following a bureaucratic dispute over his care costs, was adopted unanimously by the House of Commons in 2007. The principle prioritizes children’s needs over jurisdictional disputes between governments, allowing families to request essential services such as medical, mental health, educational, and physiotherapy support.
Despite its life-saving impact, Jordan’s Principle has struggled to keep pace with the escalating demand and ensure timely payments to service providers. Indigenous Services Canada disclosed a backlog of 140,000 applications for Jordan’s Principle at the end of 2024, with 25,000 deemed urgent.
The recent funding injection, slated to run until 2027, is intended to address the sustained demand for over a decade and facilitate ongoing reforms to enhance Jordan’s Principle in collaboration with First Nations leaders and families. However, the move comes amidst criticism directed at Minister Gull-Masty for not rescinding an operational bulletin issued last year that narrowed the scope of services covered by Jordan’s Principle, affecting access to educational and mental health supports for eligible children in First Nations communities.
