Child welfare funding shortfall for First Nations children under debate

The Assembly of First Nations and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society are arguing that the child welfare funding shortfall for children on reserves is discriminatory.

According to OpenFile, at issue is equal funding for families who live on reserves as children in the rest of Canada.

While the provinces are responsible for child welfare services, the federal government is responsible for the services on reserves.

Since 2007, the federal government has spent more than $1.5 million fighting the ongoing Human Rights Tribunal. According to the executive director of the First Nations Caring Society Cindy Blackstock, that money could make a huge difference on reserves.

Aboriginal Affairs increased funding over the past sixteen years to around $600 million to help keep children with their families. However, the investment has not fixed the situation.

According to UNICEF, more than 27 000 Aboriginal children live in foster homes in Canada. That is three times more than in 1949 at the peak of the residential school system. Factors include neglect due to poverty, poor housing and substance mis-use.

February 25th will be the first day of fourteen days of hearings on whether the child welfare funding formula is discriminatory.