THUNDER BAY – The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has ruled repeatedly ruled that the rights of First Nation’s children must be respected.
Cindy Blackstock says, “Key points about Canada’s rationale for the appeal of the Jordan’s Principle decision:
- No one has ever suggested that clinical case conferences should not happen
- For the past 10 years the federal government has used what it calls “case conferences” and other administrative procedures to decide which government department pays for a service
- The Tribunal order says that First Nations children should not be subject to payment/jurisdictional dispute case conferences
- The Tribunal order points out the problem with Canada’s long delays in it’s case conference/administrative procedures in paragraphs 88-92 of the order noting the feds were still assessing Wapekeka First Nations urgent request for mental health services six months after this proposal was submitted and Health Canada only responded after two children died
- The Federal government appeal documents do not include the word ‘clarify’ – they use the word ‘quash’.”
The impact across Indigenous communities struggling as youth are committing suicide, struggling with addiction issues, battling the impact of their parents struggles with residential schools, is massive.
