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The federal government is pledging $1.55 billion in funding to ensure First Nations children have equal access to public services over the next year, CBC News has learned.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty will make the announcement at a press conference in the House of Commons Thursday afternoon.<\/p>\n
In a statement, she said the commitment will reduce uncertainty for First Nations after concerns were raised about the long-term funding<\/a> of the legal initiative.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Jordan’s Principle must work for those who depend on it,” Gull-Masty said in a statement.<\/p>\n “We will continue working with First Nations leadership and families to ensure Jordan’s Principle remains predictable, practical, and grounded in fairness and respect.”<\/p>\n Jordan’s Principle is named after Jordan River Anderson, a boy from the Norway House Cree Nation<\/a> in Manitoba. He died in 2005 at the age of five in the midst of a two-year battle between Manitoba and Ottawa over who would pay for his home care costs associated with his complex genetic disorder.<\/p>\n In 2007, the House of Commons unanimously passed a motion to adopt a child-first principle named after Anderson to ensure First Nations children get necessary services without delays caused by jurisdiction disputes between governments.<\/p>\n Jordan’s Principle allows families to submit requests for medical, mental health, educational and physiotherapy needs.<\/p>\n While it provides life-saving support, it’s struggling to keep up with a surge in demand and pay service providers on time<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n