Letter: Long overdue victory for First Nations children

The ruling on Jan. 26 by the Canadian Human Rights (CHR) Tribunal, which found that the discriminatory policies of past federal governments led to the chronic underfunding of child welfare services for First Nations children living on reserves, is to be applauded.

Currently, a disproportionate and unacceptable number of First Nations children are being placed in foster care, and this ruling is a critical first step in improving their health and well-being.

Cindy Blackstock, the executive director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, and the Assembly of First Nations are to be congratulated for their courageous and unwavering determination to right this shameful injustice.

The Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW) fully supports the Caring Society’s request that the CHR Tribunal order a national committee to be established to identify the discriminatory parts of the funding formula for child welfare. The length of time it has taken to get to this point necessitates the timely development of a funding formula and implementation plan.

Joan MacKenzie Davies
Executive director, Ontario Association of Social Workers