$6.44 billion was spent on Jordan’s Principle requests nationally

Jordan’s Principle in crisis Indigenous leaders say the Jordan’s Principle program is in crisis as requests continue to pour in. Taylor Brock explains.

In the last five years, the number of approved Jordan’s Principle requests and the subsequent spending have nearly tripled.

The data on the legal ruling that requires governments to support essential services for First Nations children’s well-being was shared with CTV News Winnipeg by Indigenous Services Canada (ISC). It shows there has also been a sharp spending increase so far this fiscal year.

Since its inception in 2016, the ISC numbers show $6.44 billion was spent on Jordan’s Principle requests nationally.

Nationally, more than $1.6 billion has been spent on approved and committed Jordan’s Principle requests between April 1 and Sept. 30 this fiscal year. In the 2019-20 fiscal year, the total Jordan’s Principle spending in Canada was $540 million.

Nearly one-third of the current year’s spending has gone to applicants from Manitoba, an approved $515 million.

On Thursday, ISC said there are 478 full-time equivalent staff working with Jordan’s Principle and Inuit Child First Initiative as of November. In Manitoba, there at 62, roughly 13 per cent of the total workforce.

Jordan’s Principle is a legal ruling named after Jordan River Anderson, a young boy from the Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba. It ensures First Nations children have access to support they need and can include health, social, educational, mental health, dental, and medical equipment. A tribunal reviews individual and group requests and must review them within an expedited timeframe.

In the nearly eight years Jordan’s Principle has been in effect, there have also been more than 7.8 million requests for funding.

Jordan’s Principle in Crisis: AFN

On Thursday, Assembly of First Nations National Chief Cindy Woodhouse, along with other First Nations leaders from Manitoba, will be voicing their concerns about Jordan’s Principle funding.

The group included Acting Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Betsy Kennedy, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Garrison Settee, and AFN Manitoba Regional Chief Willie Moore.

“No child should face delay, denial, or gaps in services to administrative red tape. A long-term reform agreement is an urgent priority to make sure First Nations children receive the care and services they need and deserve,” said Moore.

The group highlighted challenges First Nations face when trying to access those essential services for children and the need for sustainable funding to uphold Jordan’s Principle.

“The federal governments failure to address growing Jordan’s Principle backlog adds financial strain on First Nations leadership forcing them into difficult position to provide essential services despite limited resources," said Kennedy.

Federal response to expenditures

In an email statement from Nov. 28, an Indigenous Services Canada spokesperson said each request is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

“Each situation is unique and therefore funding can vary greatly from region to region or year to year, depending on the individual needs of First Nations children that may arise at any time, and the associated cost of funding the different products or services that are approved,” the spokesperson wrote.

When asked if there were any places at risk of running out of its budgeted funds, the spokesperson said requests continue to be funded for Indigenous Services Canada regional offices.

-With files from CTV's Alex Karpa and Michelle Gerwing.