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Court to rule on whether Ottawa discriminates in funding First Nations Child Welfare services

Courts to decide on whether comparable child and family services for children on First Nations are significantly less funded than for those off-reserves.

Ottawa (14 Feb. 2012) - A landmark case regarding the funding of child welfare services on first nations has begun in an Ottawa court that could have wide implications.

First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada, the Assembly of First Nations and the Canadian Human Rights Commission are accusing the Federal government of discriminatory underfunding of child welfare on First Nations.

These human rights groups contend that comparable child and family services for children on First Nations are significantly less funded than for those off-reserves.

They are seeking a ruling declaring that federal services provided to First Nations are comparable to those provided by provincial governments to other Canadians.

Experts argue that such a win for First Nations would see the courts used further to force Ottawa to match provincial funding in such services as health and education.

The complaint was originally taken to the Human Rights Commission in 2007 with support from NUPGE along with the British Columbia Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE), the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union (MGEU/NUPGE) and a wide range of other organizations.

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