SASKATOON -- Saskatchewan First Nations leaders are calling on Ottawa to implement statutory funding to assist the child welfare overhaul coming in the new year.
Bill C-92 received royal assent in the House of Commons on June 21 - National Aboriginal Day. The bill emphasizes the need for an overhaul to the child-welfare system, providing more support for Indigenous families rather than taking Indigenous children away from their mothers. It comes into law Jan. 1.
Advocates for children and First Nations have said the federal government hasn't provided funding for or details about the changes and they suggest vulnerable children will suffer.
"Funding is needed to ensure the transfer of our children back into our First Nations communities," Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) second vice-chief David Pratt told CTV News.
"The agencies need capacity-building and infrastructure dollars to ensure that the Bill C-92 implementation is successful."
Bill C-92 outlines factors to be taken into consideration when determining the best interests of Indigenous children, including not only the child's physical and emotional needs, but also cultural and spiritual upbringing. The new child welfare system also recognizes the importance of foster children being raised in an Indigenous community.
Pratt said the amount being discussed for the more than 600 First Nation reserves in Canada is $3.5 billion.
In an emailed statement, Indigenous Services Canada spokesperson Rola Tfaili said: "The Government of Canada will continue discussions with partners to determine the funding needed to prepare for implementation. This includes transition governance models; tripartite coordination agreements; capacity-building; and regulations as required. We cannot presume the needs of any community who will exercise jurisdiction over their child and family services. Many elements of these costs will come from discussions with those partners as well as the coordination agreement table discussions.
"We are currently providing funding to delegated First Nations child and family services agencies based on actual needs, with an emphasis on prevention. Canada has also significantly increased the funding for the First Nation Child and Family Services Program, almost doubling it to $1.2 billion in 2018-2019. Canada is also actively working with partners toward a new funding model that would address future needs and potential shortfalls."
With files from The Canadian Press
