OTTAWA — Canada told the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal it can't say when it will work through 140,000 backlogged requests for Jordan's Principle to be applied.
The principle is a legal rule that stipulates that when a First Nations child needs health, social or educational services they are to receive them from the government first approached, with questions about final jurisdiction worked out afterward.
The tribunal ordered Canada to identify the number of backlogged cases and return to it with a detailed plan to address them by Dec. 10.
On that deadline Canada told the tribunal the timeline was "not operationally feasible" and could impact the delivery of services to First Nations children and families.
Canada says its first priority is to identify and process urgent requests, and then address the rest of the backlog.
The First Nations Child and Family Caring Society says children will continue to be harmed as Canada fails to live up to its obligations under the principle.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2024.
Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press
