Trudeau Liberals sign $20 billion settlement for First Nations child welfare

Ottawa has signed a $20 billion settlement agreement to compensate those impacted by the lack of funding provided for First Nations' child welfare.

The settlement still needs to be approved by the Federal court and Canadian Human Rights Tribunal before money will begin to flow into the pockets of thousands across the country.

According to CP24, the $20 billion settlement was first agreed to in principle in December 2021 by The Assembly of First Nations, and plaintiffs in two class-action lawsuits.

It accounts for only half of a $40 billion deal that seeks to overhaul the child-welfare system in Canada.

Following the announcement, Assembly of First Nations' Manitoba Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse released a statement.

"First Nations children deserve to be surrounded by love and live free of discriminatory government policy," she said, "and after three decades of advocacy and months of negotiations, I'm proud to say on behalf the AFN that we have reached another historic milestone for our children and their and families."

"We've held our children in our hearts and prayers throughout negotiations, reaching an agreement that we believe fairly upholds the 2019 orders of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal and broadens the scope of First Nations children and families eligible to seek compensation where they experienced discrimination in the federal First Nations Child and Family Services program and the narrow implementation of Jordan’s Principle."

Jordan's Principle, named after Jordan River Anderson, a First Nations boy who lived his life in hospital while governments fought over who should pay for his care, "aims to eliminate service inequities and delays for First Nations children."

Woodhouse said that if the settlement is passed by the court and tribunal, she expects people will begin receiving compensation as early as next year.