Long overdue victory for First Nations
Re A victory for kids, Editorial Jan. 27 The truly historic Jan. 26 ruling by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT), which found that the discriminatory policies of past federal governments led to the chronic underfunding of child welfare services for First Nations children living on reserves, is to be applauded. Currently a disproportionate and unacceptable number of First Nations children are being placed in foster care and this ruling is a critical first step in improving their health and well-being.
Cindy Blackstock, the executive director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, and the Assembly of First Nations are to be congratulated for their courageous and unwavering determination to right this shameful injustice.
We fully support the Caring Society’s request that the CHRT order a national committee to be established to identify the discriminatory parts of the funding formula for child welfare. The extraordinary length of time it has taken to get to this point necessitates the timely development of a funding formula and implementation plan.
This is a long overdue victory for First Nations children. Joan MacKenzie Davies, executive director, Ontario Association of Social Workers
In early 2015, I was shocked to learn that, during their 10-year tenure, the former Conservative government held back budgeted funds from a number of projects. But in of all those projects, including funding for infrastructure, health and our veterans, the holding back of funds from First Nations children is the most odious, most inhuman thing that the former Conservative government could have done, and sadly, they have done many.
Canadian citizens have been abused many times over during the past 10 years by the government. How many more instances are going to turn up over the next while?
How is the current Liberal government going to step up and heal this damage? Since Oct. 19, 2015, I have more hope that the government will do the right thing. David Bourque, Grafton, Ont.