{"id":84625,"date":"2025-08-20T21:39:07","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T21:39:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/84625\/"},"modified":"2025-08-20T21:39:07","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T21:39:07","slug":"canada-has-until-aug-29-to-decide-to-resume-negotiations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/84625\/","title":{"rendered":"Canada has until Aug. 29 to decide to resume negotiations"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal is ordering Canada back to the negotiating table on the long-term reform of the child welfare system.<\/p>\n

Talks have been at an impasse since the Assembly of First Nations\u2019 (AFN) Chiefs in Assembly rejected an offer of $47.8B from Canada in October 2024.<\/p>\n

In February, First Nations in Ontario and the federal government reached an $8.5B agreement on child welfare reform in that province, but Canada has refused to consult with other interested parties like the National Children\u2019s Chiefs Commission (NCCC), the AFN and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society (Caring Society).<\/p>\n

Talks have been at a standstill for nearly year, but in a ruling dated\u00a0 Aug. 20 the Tribunal declared it is time for \u201cswift action.\u201d<\/p>\n

Canada has been urging the CHRT to approve the deal it reached with the Chiefs of Ontario and Nishnawbe Aski Nation in February. The federal government believes that deal could inform negotiations on a national level.<\/p>\n

However, the Tribunal disagrees and in its Wednesday ruling directs the feds to proceed on both the Ontario agreement and national long-term reform.<\/p>\n

Return to the table<\/p>\n

The Tribunal is urging Canada to return to the table to listen to the NCCC, the AFN and the Caring Society in order to avoid the possibility of an \u201cimposed final solution.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Tribunal has given Canada until Aug. 29 to decide whether it will resume negotiations.<\/p>\n

\u201cCanada can agree to negotiate or not however, one thing that Canada cannot do is simply wait and let time go by,\u201d the Tribunal said in its ruling.<\/p>\n

\u201cTherefore, should Canada refuse to return to the table to meet the NCCC and hear them out, the Tribunal will hear the co-complainants\u2019 evidence-based solutions representing the NCCC and multiple First Nations\u2019 viewpoints and Canada\u2019s and then choose between the long-term reform order requests.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Tribunal wants a comprehensive long-term reform plan on child welfare submitted within four months for its consideration.<\/p>\n

Cindy Blackstock, executive director of the Caring Society, said her organization is still reviewing the ruling but welcomed \u201cthe Tribunal\u2019s recognition of the National Children\u2019s Chiefs Commission\u201d that was formed by a resolution of the Chiefs in Assembly after the $47.8B dollar package was refused.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the meantime,\u201d Blackstock said, \u201cCanada needs to stop wasting time and money, and show it is serious about ending its discrimination by following the Tribunal\u2019s orders and stop harming children.\u201d<\/p>\n

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