HISTORIC CHILD WELFARE SETTLEMENT ANNOUNCED
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Posted by Shelby Percival
- Posted in BlogsNews
NISHNAWBE ASKI NATION SIGNATORY TO LONG-TERM REFORM IN CHILD WELFARE
Julian Falconer and Christopher Rapson of Falconers LLP are honoured to be part of the negotiations team for Nishnawbe Aski Nation (“NAN”) in their efforts to achieve real systemic change for remote Indigenous communities in respect of the child welfare system. Falconers LLP is honoured to support NAN Deputy Grand Chief Bobby Narcisse and his team as they have navigated these negotiations and acted as agents of change in child welfare.
On December 31, 2021, NAN and the other parties executed an historic Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) for long-term reform of First Nations child and family services, including NAN’s Choose Life program and Jordan’s Principle supports. As a result of NAN’s advocacy, the AIP recognizes the newly formed National Assembly of Remote Communities and establishes a Remoteness Secretariat to address, for the first time, remoteness barriers faced by Indigenous communities across the country. These advances are a significant step toward fairness in funding and improving services to care for children, youth, and families in NAN communities and beyond.
This AIP is part of an historic settlement that will resolve longstanding litigation at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) and related class actions. The total settlement package is worth approximately $40 billion, representing the largest settlement in Canadian history. It includes $20 billion in compensation for those harmed by Canada’s discriminatory practices and $20 billion over five years for reforming the First Nations child welfare system and implementing Jordan’s Principle to address the discrimination found by the CHRT.
Media Coverage
Sask. First Nations Leaders, Advocates Welcome $40B Child Welfare Settlement – CBC News (January 5, 2022)
Government Announces $40-Billion Settlement Over Indigenous Child-Welfare System – National Post (January 4, 2022)
Canada Reaches $31bn Deal in Indigenous Child Welfare Case – BBC News (January 4, 2022)
Canada Pledges $31.5 Billion to Settle Fight Over Indigenous Child Welfare System – The New York Times (January 4, 2022)
NAN Statement on Historic Deal for Long-term Reform of First Nation Child and Family Services – Nishnawbe Aski Nation (January 4, 2022)
Ottawa Announces $40 Billion Indigenous Child-Welfare Settlement, Largest in History – Toronto Star (January 4, 2022)
Ottawa Releases Early Details of Landmark $40B First Nations Child Welfare Agreement – CBC News (January 4, 2022) (Live Updates)
Feds, Indigenous Leaders Release Details of $40B Child Welfare Compensation, Reform Deal –CTV News (January 4, 2022)
Canada Unveils $40 Billion First Nations Child-Welfare Settlement – Toronto City News (January 4, 2022)
Agreements-in-Principle Reached on Compensation and Long-Term Reform of First Nations Child and Family Services and Jordan’s Principle – Newswire (January 4, 2022)
Ottawa Unveils $40B Deal on Indigenous Child Welfare Compensation – Global News (January 4, 2022)
Canada Agrees C$40BN Deal to Reform Child Welfare for First Nations – The Guardian (January 4, 2022)
Ottawa reaches $40-billion Deal with First Nations over Child Welfare – The Globe and Mail (January 3, 2022)
