Ottawa extends Jordan’s Principle funding for First Nations

Ottawa has announced it will continue funding Jordan’s Principle for First Nations children until 2026. This initiative ensures Indigenous children can access health, social, and educational services without facing delays due to jurisdictional issues. The announcement was made by Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu, just before the start of a federal election campaign. Since its creation in 2016, the government has invested $8.8 billion into Jordan’s Principle. Hajdu stated that over 8.9 million products, services, and supports have been approved under this initiative. The principle is named after Jordan River Anderson, a boy from Manitoba who died in a hospital while waiting for government funding for his care. Hajdu also mentioned that a review will be conducted to ensure that expenses from First Nations recipients in 2024-2025 will be covered. This review aims to support critical services and improve processing timelines for requests under Jordan’s Principle. Recently, the government limited funding for certain requests, such as home renovations and international travel. They argued that the scope of Jordan’s Principle had become too broad, leading to request backlogs. Cindy Blackstock, who leads the First Nations Family and Caring Society, has criticized the government's actions. She argues they are failing to meet their legal obligations and claims the processing delays and backlog are partly the government’s fault. The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs has also voiced concern, asserting that the government is neglecting its responsibilities and has called on newly sworn-in Prime Minister Mark Carney to address these issues.