Question Period Note: Jordan's Principle

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• We are committed to the ongoing implementation of Jordan’s Principles and its long-term sustainability. Jordan’s Principle was created to ensure that First Nations children do not experience gaps or delays in accessing government-funded health, social and education services, and that they are not denied these services due to their identity as First Nations children.
• To date, nearly $10 billion in Jordan’s Principle funding has been secured, and more than 9.4 million products, services, and supports have been approved since 2016.
• These include speech therapy, educational supports, medical equipment, mental health services and more.

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If pressed on the Jordan’s Principle program
• I am fully aware of the frustrations with the application and payment process as well as the concerns about the impact these changes have had on children receiving supports.
• One of my top priorities is to improve these services. First Nations children should not face gaps or delays in accessing government services due to their identity as First Nations, regardless of where they live.
• The backlog and the strain it is causing on individuals and communities is unacceptable. I have asked my officials to immediately bring me new solutions to reduce and eliminate the backlog.
• I have also asked my department to review our service delivery plans and prepare a transparent and public update on our progress to improve services for First Nations children. I will share both these plans to eliminate the backlog and improve services publicly.

If pressed on funding commitments
• Canada is committed to upholding Jordan’s Principle and to providing the essential health, social and educational products services and supports that address the unmet needs of First Nations children.
• In March 2025, the Government announced continued funding for Jordan’s Principle for 2025-26. The funding will support requests for products, services, and supports for families, communities, and organizations made through Jordan’s Principle for First Nations children in the year to come.
• While we continue to provide support to First Nations children through Jordan’s Principle, we are also undertaking work with First Nations partners, provinces, and territories to coordinate services and help ensure the long-term sustainability of Jordan’s Principle.

If pressed on the new operational guidelines
• Since it was first implemented in 2016, requests through Jordan’s Principle have grown at an extremely fast pace, most notably in the last few years. There were 614,350 requests approved in 2021-2022, compared to almost 3 million requests approved in 2023-2024, a 367% increase.
• In light of this increased volume, the Government of Canada is implementing new ways to process requests to expedite decision-making and address the increased demand.
• These changes, announced on February 10, 2025, provide further clarity and consistency around the services available for First Nations children through Jordan’s Principle, as well as the required documentation that is needed when processing requests. They will also help ensure requests align with the long-term sustainability of Jordan’s Principle

If pressed on delays in processing Jordan’s Principle requests
• Jordan’s Principle requests have grown exponentially since 2016, both in volume of requests and funding requested. It is important to recognize that every request differs both in the amount of time, complexity and effort required to ensure the appropriate support can be provided.
• Due to the significant increase in the numbers of requests, ISC is implementing new ways to process requests to expedite decision making and address the increased demand.
• This is why on February 10, 2025, the Government of Canada announced that it is implementing new ways to process requests. ISC is expanding the decision making in regional offices to limit duplication in processes and extending decision-making powers to regional staff to speed up the processing of requests.
• ISC staff continue to work diligently to clear the existing backlog of requests under Jordan’s Principle and to process new requests within the prescribed timelines.

If pressed on the resolution of the CHRT complaint
• The Government of Canada continues to work with the Parties to the complaint before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, or the Tribunal, to advance a resolution to the discrimination, substantiated by the Tribunal in 2016, and to fully implement Jordan’s Principle.
• Canada is currently engaged in Tribunal-assisted discussions with the Parties to the complaint on various matters stemming from a December 2023 non-compliance motion and will report back to the Tribunal on progress.
• ISC will work with partners to develop options for a long-term sustainable approach to Jordan’s Principle to ensure it is available for First Nations children who need it for years to come.

If pressed on 2021 CHRT 41 Capital Funding Order
• Our Government has committed funding for the delivery of First Nations child and family services, and services under Jordan’s Principle.
• Our desire is to respect and develop First Nations-led capital planning processes that result in quality capital assets, and address the needs of First Nations children.

If pressed on operational changes impacting Provincial and Territorial off-reserve school boards
• Jordan’s Principle cannot sustainably fund provincial programming provided to all children- like education.
• We want to work with partners to strengthen collaboration and ensure that we meet children’s needs together.
• Supports to school boards off-reserve and private schools will be redirected to provincial/ territorial school boards.
• This allows Jordan's Principle to remain focused on bridging gaps, addressing delays and service denials directly related to their identity as a First Nations child for government funded essential services.

If pressed on individual Jordan’s Principle cases
• I cannot comment on individual Jordan’s Principle requests due to privacy policies.
• Each Jordan’s Principle request is considered on a case-by-case basis, along with the required documentation for the request while taking into account the distinct needs of the child/children and gaps in other programs or services. An existing or previously-approved request does not guarantee that a request for new funding will be renewed or approved.
• Our priority is supporting First Nations children’s equal access to the essential government funded products, services, and supports they need.