Ottawa/ CMEDIA:Renegotiating of its $20-billion compensation package for people affected by the First Nations child welfare system, would be attempted by Ottawa, according to the court records.
Federal officials are expected to begin on Feb. 7 and 8R reworking on the $20-billion compensation agreement that was rejected last fall by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, according to a letter filed in Federal Court, is expected to begin by the
The deal was reportedly supposed to compensate First Nations children and their families for chronic underfunding of the on-reserve child welfare system and other family services.
The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) in Saskatchewan said in a Thursday news release both it and the national Assembly of First Nations (AFN) are “dismayed” by the snub.
“Our people and their government were here before the provincial borders were even formed,” said FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron in the release.
“There is no reconciliation for First Nations when we continue to be excluded from these crucial discussions and decision-making processes.”
“I’m hopeful, but I’m also mindful that the prime minister originally said he would compensate these children back in 2019,” said Cindy Blackstock reportedly, the First Nations children’s advocate who initiated the case 16 years ago.
“Yet not one penny of compensation has gone out the door. So a promise to pay is not a payment.”
Blackstock, executive director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society for negotiations will be joined by AFN representatives and class action lawyers who attempted to resolve two lawsuits with the $20-billion offer with the government.
First Nations populations are used by the provincial governments to secure funding and yet First Nations still experience racism and inadequate care in health-care settings., said the FSIN, which advocates for 74 First Nations.
“Our people don’t have access to services and care the same as non-First Nations. We expect and demand to be at the table every step of the way from beginning to end,” said Cameron in the release.
When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government were asked by the premiers for a multi-billion-dollar boost of up to 35 percent to the cash, Trudeau’s government transfers the request to the provinces to Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, whose office supplied a statement.
“Indigenous Peoples face unique challenges when it comes to having fair and equitable access to quality and culturally safe health-care services, and we must continue to work in partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis to properly address these gaps,” the statement said.
The federal government regularly engages with Indigenous communities on a suite of issues, said the statement and added that it has invested millions into culturally sensitive, Indigenous-led health initiatives.
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