Listen to this article
Estimated 3 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
The federal government is pledging $1.55 billion in funding to ensure First Nations children have equal access to public services over the next year.
Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty made the announcement at a news conference in the House of Commons Thursday afternoon.
In a statement prior to the news conference, she said the commitment will reduce uncertainty for First Nations after concerns were raised about the long-term funding of the legal initiative.
“Jordan’s Principle must work for those who depend on it,” Gull-Masty said.
“We will continue working with First Nations leadership and families to ensure Jordan’s Principle remains predictable, practical and grounded in fairness and respect.”
On Thursday, Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty said the federal government is committing $1.55 billion in funding for Jordan’s Principle, which is meant to ensure First Nations children get necessary services without delays caused by jurisdiction disputes between governments.
Jordan’s Principle is named after Jordan River Anderson, a boy from the Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba. He died in 2005 at the age of five in the midst of a two-year battle between Manitoba and Ottawa over who would pay for home care costs associated with his complex genetic disorder.
In 2007, the House of Commons unanimously passed a motion to adopt a child-first principle named after Anderson to ensure First Nations children get necessary services without delays caused by jurisdiction disputes between governments.
Jordan’s Principle allows families to submit requests for medical, mental health, educational and physiotherapy needs.
While it provides life-saving support, it’s struggling to keep up with a surge in demand and pay service providers on time.
Indigenous Services Canada, which runs the initiative, reported a backlog of 140,000 applications for Jordan’s Principle in late 2024 with 25,000 labelled urgent.
More than 10 million products, services and supports were approved under Jordan’s Principle between July 2016 and Sept. 30, 2025, the federal department said.
The funding is meant to respond to that sustained demand over the past decade, while work continues to reform Jordan’s Principle with First Nations leaders and families.
The new federal funding, which is set to last until 2027, comes as Gull-Masty faces criticism for not repealing an operational bulletin released last year that limited the scope of services covered by Jordan’s Principle.
That bulletin bars approvals for home renovations, sporting events, international travel, non-medical supports or school-related requests unless they’re required to ensure equality with kids who are not First Nations.
Those changes have been criticized by First Nations leaders who say their communities are now unable to access educational and mental health supports for kids who once qualified under Jordan’s Principle.
