It’s the largest Indigenous settlement in Canada’s history. A news release from the Assembly of First Nations says the AFN, the federal government and class action parties have reached a settlement agreement worth $20-billion to compensate First Nations children and families harmed by the underfunding of child welfare. The agreement still needs approval by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal and Federal Court of Canada.
The AFN reports that the final settlement will be filed with the Tribunal in the coming weeks, and a motion to approve it is scheduled to be heard at the Federal Court of Canada in September. The agreement will include distribution protocol, outlining specifics on who will be eligible for compensation and how they can apply. AFN Manitoba Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse expects compensation will begin to reach First Nations next year.
The Agreement-in-Principle was signed last December and it was announced in January that the compensation would total $20-billion. At that time, the AFN, the federal government and other parties also signed an Agreement-in-Principle to change the First Nations Child and Family Services program, outlining an additional $19.8-billion, and the AFN says efforts on that agreement and the long-term reform of the program continue.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, David Lametti, says, “”Truth and reconciliation challenges all of us to think and act in new ways. Our journey will be filled with moments such as this where, as a government, we need to recognize where injustices and harm have been experienced by First Nations children and families. This agreement presents a renewed opportunity to work together to build a positive, healing future for First Nations children and families in Canada.”
Once approved by the Federal Court and the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, the following groups will be eligible for compensation:
-children who were removed from their homes under the First Nations Child and Family Services program between April 1, 1991 and March 31, 2022
-children who were impacted by the government’s narrow definition of Jordan’s Principle between December 12, 2007 and November 2, 2017
-children who did not receive or were delayed in receiving an essential public service or product between April 1, 1991 and December 11, 2007
-caregiving parents or caregiving grandparents of the children above may also be eligible for compensation
