Canadian Human Rights Tribunal finds feds have discriminated against Aboriginal children

The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal has ruled against the the federal government today, finding it has discriminated against Aboriginal children on reserves.

This ruling revolves around the issue of funding for child welfare services. The tribunal has found children living on reserves were not getting the same level of services as children in other parts of the country, which is contrary to the Canadian Human Rights Act.

The tribunal published its findings this morning related to a 2007 complaint from the Assembly of First Nations and The First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada.

The society’s executive director Cindy Blackstock says it is extraordinary the case had to be filed in the first place.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennet is vowing to fix this inequality.

“I have to say that personally, this is hugely important that we get this right… and it’s doable.”

Bennett couldn’t say how much this may cost the government.

Aboriginal groups are calling this an historic decision that will directly help the health and well being of First Nations children.

Child welfare was among the central issues flagged in the report by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which spent six years delving into the painful residential school system that operated from the 1870s to 1996.

The report called on all levels of government to reduce the number of aboriginal children taken into care by providing adequate resources for communities and child-welfare organizations.

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