Yukon First Nation groups say new federal cash for Jordan's Principle meaningless without broader changes

The federal government’s recent announcement of $1.55 billion for Jordan’s Principle has drawn criticism from two Yukon First Nations organizations, who say the funding pledge is “meaningless” unless Ottawa reverses operational changes introduced last year that narrowed the program’s scope. The Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) and the Yukon First Nation Education Directorate say an operational bulletin released just over a year ago and new rules for group requests have effectively blocked access to funds for children and families in the territory.

“If the federal government continues to put up barriers for people to access money, any funding announcement doesn’t really matter,” said Shadelle Chambers, executive director of the Council of Yukon First Nations.

Jordan’s Principle, named for Jordan River Anderson, is intended to ensure First Nations children receive timely services without jurisdictional delay. The principle is defined by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal rather than as a federal program. Chambers says CYFN — the first Jordan’s Principle service coordinator in the Yukon and a fund partner since 2017 — has seen a dramatic cut in group funding because of last year’s operational bulletin and rule changes. CYFN estimates the bulletin resulted in about a $13‑million decrease in approved group funding: that was the amount the organization had at the same time last year, but “this year, the organization has received nothing,” Chambers said.

• The federal announcement of $1.55 billion includes $773 million previously announced in Budget 2022, according to Indigenous Services Canada.
• Last year’s change to group request rules increased administrative requirements for organizations seeking funding on behalf of many children at once.
• CYFN says funds previously supported essentials such as food, clothing, shelter, daycare and counselling.

Melanie Bennett, executive director of the Yukon First Nation Education Directorate, said staff and program cuts followed the changes introduced last year. “That was my biggest hope in this. It’s … disappointing that they’re not actually addressing the root problem, which is the operational bulletin,” she said. The bulletin, Bennett and Chambers say, is “the most significant barrier” to access in recent years.

A personal example cited in coverage last April involved Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in citizen Ashley Russell, who told CBC she relied on CYFN’s necessities-of-life program for grocery vouchers and was left feeling hopeless when supports were cancelled. Russell told CBC this week she was “too emotional about the topic for an interview.”

Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull‑Masty had previously signalled changes were coming: APTN reported last December she was “excited that we will soon be making announcements on what that change looks like.” In response to CBC this week, a spokesperson for Indigenous Services Canada said the department is “engaging with First Nations, provincial and territorial partners to strengthen collaboration and make sure that children’s needs are met together.”

Chambers said CYFN and other Yukon organizations expect Ottawa to fully implement Jordan’s Principle through meaningful consultation with First Nations, and noted the group watches for a budget announcement every February or March. For now, Yukon First Nations leaders say the $1.55‑billion headline will not translate into restored services in the territory until the operational bulletin and group‑request rules are amended.