Concerns raised over unequal funding ruling

The Assembly of First Nations is concerned about the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal’s recent dismissal of a 2007 complaint about unequal funding for First Nation children in the child welfare system.
“We are very disappointed with this ruling by the Tribunal which seems to suggest it is acceptable for the federal government to treat our children unequally and unfairly,” said National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo.
Filed by the AFN and the First Nation Child and Family Caring Society of Canada, the complaint alleged the federal government racially discriminates against First Nations children by providing less child welfare benefit on reserves.
The Caring Society also expressed concerns about Canadian Human Rights Tribunal chairwoman Shirish Chotalia’s March 14 ruling to dismiss the case on a legal technicality suggesting the federal government can provide a different and inequitable level of service to First Nations children so long as the provinces and territories provide the service to all other children.
“The government of Canada should not be immune from human rights laws and obligations to First Nations children because of a legal technicality and we will take all necessary measures to ensure that this case is decided in a public forum on the full set of facts - the children deserve nothing less,” said Cindy Blackstock, executive director of the Caring Society.
Irwin Elman, Ontario’s provincial advocate for children and youth was saddened by the decision.
“The human rights of First Nations children were made secondary in the findings of the tribunal and that is a loss for all of us involved in the work of child advocacy and children’s rights,” Elman said.