Jordan's Principle, a program designed to ensure First Nations children receive equitable access to services, should be a key issue as the 2025 federal election approaches. Named after Jordan River Anderson, a boy from the Norway House Cree Nation who died while waiting for essential medical care, the principle ensures that children do not face delays in receiving services due to jurisdictional disputes between governments.
However, despite its intent, the Jordan's Principle program is experiencing significant challenges. Recently, families like Scarlet's—a four-year-old from Thunder Bay with autism—have been denied essential therapy funding, even though the program was originally designed to prevent such barriers. Scarlet's family had previously received a $190,000 grant to support her therapy, but a subsequent request for continued funding was denied, leaving the family in a precarious situation. Without this critical care, there is fear that Scarlet may regress and lose her ability to speak.
This denial of funding and the increasing backlog of 140,000 requests has sparked outrage among First Nations leaders and advocates. In response, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruled in December that the federal government must address the backlog and create an independent complaints mechanism. But despite this ruling, many argue that the government has failed to meet its legal obligations and continues to deny critical services to First Nations children.
In March 2025, the federal government announced that it would continue funding Jordan's Principle through 2026. While this extension was welcomed, Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu acknowledged the need to address the backlog and the challenges in providing timely and equitable services. The government has invested $8.8 billion into the program since 2016, but changes to the program, including narrowing the scope of eligible requests, have raised concerns that services are being cut back rather than expanded.
The importance of Jordan's Principle in the 2025 election cannot be overstated. The program is critical for ensuring that First Nations children receive the same opportunities as other children in Canada. As the election approaches, voters should be aware of how the federal government’s handling of Jordan's Principle will impact the future of First Nations children across the country.
The 2025 election presents an opportunity to ensure that First Nations children receive the support they need, and that the federal government is held accountable for its promises to provide equitable services for all children, regardless of their background.
More information: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/thunder-bay-family-denied-jordans-principle-1.7501545