The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal says a $40 billion child welfare settlement agreement the federal government reached with First Nations doesn’t meet all the requirements of the tribunal’s orders.
In a judgement issued on Tuesday, the panel urged the parties to continue talks.
Three years after finding that Ottawa had discriminated against First Nations children for years by underfunding child welfare services on reserves, the tribunal ordered Ottawa to pay out compensation to children and families in 2019.
In January, a settlement to pay that compensation was announced by the federal government, the Assembly of First Nations, and the attorneys for two connected class actions.
Each of the affected children and their families received a $40,000 compensation at first.
The tribunal is worried about whether all children will receive the full sum, as well as the deadline claimants have to choose not to receive compensation.
Assembly of First Nations regional chief Cindy Woodhouse says the tribunal’s decision is devastating and federal ministers also expressed disappointment..
$40B First Nations Child Welfare Settlement Does Not Comply With Order, According to Tribunal
About Author
