The Trudeau government is facing opposition from First Nations across the country on a draft of its child welfare legislation according to the grand chief of the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians.
Joel Abram said a draft of the proposed legislation was shared with a working group of First Nations about a week and a half ago.
The next day the Trudeau government was told it wasn’t good enough and Abram said it looks to be more of a “feel good” bill.
“We are all pretty clear on two parts,” said Abram Wednesday morning. “One is the jurisdiction and the other is having the funding fully legislated in there.”
He couldn’t discuss details of the draft bill, however its intent is to hand over jurisdiction to First Nations and Abram said it falls short of that.
“We are encouraging the government to let go of the wheel,” said Abram. “There’s nothing in there that is going to compel the government to fund (First Nations).”
But since offering its complaints, Abram said they haven’t seen another draft and don’t expect to until it’s tabled in the House of Commons.
They’ve been given a drop dead date of Feb. 18 for the bill to be tabled and still have time to reach royal assent. News of the complaints from First Nations was first reported by CBC Wednesday morning.
“I hope it is not dead,” said Cindy Blackstock, who also got to see a draft of the bill based on her Canadian Human Rights Tribunal action that continues to fight for equal rights for First Nations children.
“I hope it has the affirmation of self-determination and statutory base for substantively equitable funding included when it is released. We will have to see but I agree time is tight.”
Talks between the government and leadership continues said Abram.
Abram was trying to reach the Prime Minister’s Office Wednesday and Minister Seamus O’Regan was supposed to be talking to Ontario regional chief RoseAnne Archibald.
He also said they thought the bill was going to be announced yesterday with the Indigenous Languages Act.
A spokesperson with Indigenous Services Canada says the bill will be tabled shortly.
“We are working diligently so that we can introduce Indigenous child and family services legislation shortly. However, we must also ensure that critical feedback from partners is incorporated.
“This is important, and we want to make sure we get it right.”
The legislation was first announced at a media conference in late November. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau then said in December to expect it in late January.
It’s not known when the bill will be tabled.
Shifting responsibility to Firdt Nations without statutory (legislated) funding is irresponsible. First Nations leadership should not settle for jurisdiction without funding as that means they accept all the liability.
Shifting responsibility to Firdt Nations without statutory (legislated) funding is irresponsible. First Nations leadership should not settle for jurisdiction without funding as that means they accept all the liability.
I’ll look up such legislation. My children were illegally and forcibly removed from L.H.S.C. in June 2018. Prompting the resignation of K.Wynn. There’s also an human rights complaint about multiple acts of violence by police, police corruption, and illicit enrichment. There is evidence (proof) to support the allegations against L.P.S. and the Ontario ministry of the attourney general. i.e. corruption “near totalitarian application of law enforcement”, also “attrocities and crimes against humanity”, admissions specific to the past 15 years in Ontario, that also acknowledge an history of similar racist crimes throughout the 150 years previous.
I’ll look up such legislation. My children were illegally and forcibly removed from L.H.S.C. in June 2018. Prompting the resignation of K.Wynn. There’s also an human rights complaint about multiple acts of violence by police, police corruption, and illicit enrichment. There is evidence (proof) to support the allegations against L.P.S. and the Ontario ministry of the attourney general. i.e. corruption “near totalitarian application of law enforcement”, also “attrocities and crimes against humanity”, admissions specific to the past 15 years in Ontario, that also acknowledge an history of similar racist crimes throughout the 150 years previous.