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NDP MPs Idlout and Gazan call for an emergency debate on the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal’s order on Jordan’s Principle

OTTAWA – On Wednesday, NDP MPs Lori Idlout (Nunavut) and Leah Gazan (Winnipeg Centre) requested an emergency debate calling on the Speaker to allow Members of Parliament to uphold the Canadian human rights principle to ensure Indigenous children, through Jordan’s Principle and the Inuit First Child Initiative (ICFI), have equitable access to government-funded services.

The NDP is calling out the sweeping changes made to Jordan’s Principle and ICFI funding were implemented during the prorogation and dissolution of the 44th Parliament.

“Changes to the requirements to access Jordan’s Principle and Inuit Child First Initiative result in keeping First Nations and Inuit children in poverty and less healthy than non-Indigenous children.” said Gazan. “Indigenous children have been cut off from educational supports and resources, including speech therapy and food security programming. Children with medical issues are denied the funding to address unhealthy living conditions which exacerbates their symptoms.”

“In Nunavut, over 15,000 Inuit children are struggling with starvation every day since the federal government canceled the food voucher program,” said Idlout. “Although the population of Nunavut is small, food insecurity in the territories is of concern to all Canadians, given the scale and the severity of the problem.”

In late April, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and First Nations have called upon the government to uphold their human rights obligations under Jordan’s principle instead of placing restrictions of critical services required by children while governments, delay and make cutbacks to services.

Contact:
Leah Gazan
(204) 984-1675

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