We have been unequivocal from the start: we will compensate those harmed by child and family services polices in order to mend past wrongs and lay the foundation for a more equitable and stronger future for First Nations children, their families and communities. #cdnpoli
Today, the Government of Canada and the Parties, the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society and Assembly of First Nations, are announcing that we have agreed to sit down immediately and work towards reaching a global resolution by December 2021
on outstanding issues that have been the subject of litigation. This will include:
• providing fair, equitable compensation to First Nations children on-reserve and in the Yukon who were removed from their homes by child and family services agencies,
as well as those who were impacted by the government’s narrow definition of Jordan’s Principle,
• achieving long-term reform of the First Nations Child and Family Service program, and
• funding for the purchase and/or construction of capital assets that support the delivery of child and family services on-reserve and Jordan's Principle.
As we work to ensure that those who have been harmed are fairly compensated, we are also committing to it.
significant investments to address long-term reform of the First Nations Child and Family Services and will work with the parties to put in place an approach that best serves these children. We will also continue this work through the ongoing implementation of
An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis Children, Youth and Families, which affirms and recognizes their jurisdiction over child and family services.
In order to allow the Parties time to have meaningful discussions and to reach a lasting agreement, Canada,
the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society and Assembly of First Nations have agreed to pause litigation on the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal decision. Providing the space to reach agreement on compensation & finding for future reforms will help us reach the best outcome.
This means that while Canada filed what is known as a protective appeal of the Federal Court decision of September 29, 2021, the appeal will be on hold and the focus will be squarely on reaching an agreement outside of court and at the table.
As part of our collective responsibility to end discrimination against Indigenous Peoples, we must redress past harms. We will continue to work with our provincial and territorial partners, and all Canadians,
to stand together to fight racism at every level, in every part of our society.
Indigenous children and youth are at the centre of what we do; our commitment to their health and well-being is an essential part of our journey towards reconciliation.
Our investments represent our significant commitment to make amends for past actions, but also to invest in a fairer, healthier future. Our country will be stronger to stand together to fight racism at every level, in every part of our society.
Indigenous children and youth are at the centre of what we do; our commitment to their health and well-being is an essential part of our journey towards reconciliation.
Our investments represent our significant commitment to make amends for past actions, but also to invest in a fairer, healthier future. Our country will be stronger for it.
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We all have a role to play in finishing the fight against Covid-19. The Premier’s misunderstanding of his own healthcare system and the role it plays together with the Athabasca Health Authority & Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority is alarming & unproductive. #cdnpoli
The facts are that the vaccination rates in First Nation communities in Saskatchewan are low: approximately 60% among persons 12 and older. We should absolutely not seek to place blame on those communities.
There are many reasons for this, including high youth populations, coupled with the fact that Saskatchewan did not prioritize Indigenous communities as per NACI guidelines. We are also seeing hesitancy in certain communities.
Today, I am in Shoal Lake 40 to witness the lifting of 7 Long Term Water Advisories (LTDWA). The people of Shoal Lake 40 have fought hard for this day. But it is also unacceptable in Canada that communities such as Neskantaga First Nation continue to be under a LTDWA. #cdnpoli
There is no excuse in a country such as ours that communities continue to suffer from lack of clean & potable water. Canadians and Indigenous Peoples living in Canada deserve to know exactly what the Federal Government is doing and will do to support communities lift their LTDWA.
In the case of Neskantaga First Nation, under this government, a new $16 million water system was built. As part of the repatriation of the community in December, the plant was commissioned and is producing clean water.
Decades of neglect have led to the unacceptable reality that far too many First Nations have no reliable access to clean drinking water. We have taken significant steps to right this wrong, and much remains to be done. 1 / #cdnpoli
In October 2015, there were 105 long term drinking water advisories (LTDWA)
✅ By investing in 535 water treatment infrastructure projects, 109 LTDWAs across Canada have been lifted
✅ In addition, we prevented 188 short-term advisories from becoming LTDWAs
✅We have invested over $4 billion to eliminate drinking water advisories in First Nations. Thanks to these investments, British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec and Atlantic Canada no longer have long-term drinking water advisories. 3 /
Des décennies de négligence ont mené à cette réalité inacceptable pour les Premières Nations: pas d'accès fiable à une eau de qualité. Nous avons pris des mesures importantes pour régler ce problème, mais il reste beaucoup à faire. 1/ #polcan
En octobre 2015, il y avait 105 avis d’ébullition à long terme.
✅En investissant dans 535 projets d’infrastructure de traitement des eaux, nous avons pu lever 109 avis d’ébullition à long terme partout au Canada.
✅De plus, nous avons pu lever 188 avis à court terme 2/
✅Nous avons investi plus de 4 milliards de $ pour éliminer les avis sur l’eau potable dans les PN vivant dans les réserves. Grâce à ces investissements, la Colombie-Britannique, l’Alberta, le Québec et le Canada atlantique n’ont plus aucun avis sur l’eau potable à long terme. 3/
On Friday given the alarming rate of increase of Covid-19 in Alberta, Canada announced over $52 million in funding to support Indigenous communities on the ground, including:
•$19 million in direct support for security needs in First Nations experiencing outbreaks #cdnpoli
and further $7.9 million to Indigenous organizations for a wide variety of measures, including support to Elders and vulnerable community members, food security, mental health assistance, and outreach efforts to keep people safe.
•$8 million to support surge capacity such as winterized structures to support COVID-19 drive-by testing, deployment of health professional team(s) to outbreak locations as needed, and immediate isolation supports where existing isolation capacity has been exhausted.
On Friday, in light of the dangerous increase in Covid19, Canada announced additional support for First Nations and Métis in Saskatchewan. Working directly in partnership with First Nations and Métis leadership we are allocating over $68 million in funding, including #cdnpoli
•$20 million to Indigenous communities and organizations for a wide variety of measures, including support to Elders and vulnerable community members, food security, mental health assistance, outreach efforts to keep people safe, and emergency response services and preparedness
measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
•$32 million to support public health measures such as supplying non-medical PPE to comply with provincial masking requirements. Of this amount, $10 million will be provided to support immediate measures where there is a community