Child-First Principle
Jordans Principle is a Child-first principle set to ensure that First Nations Children, who live on or off the reserves, get access to all government services without delay. The principle ensures that all First Nation children get equitable access to public services. The principle was established after the death of a 5-year-old boy who died after being in the hospital for two years while the provisional and federal governments were arguing on who was supposed to finance his homecare.
Jordans Principle 2007
The Law was passed unanimously in 2007 after Member Motion (M-296) endorsed it. As a result, all First Nation children were allowed access to all public services while considering the historical disadvantage (Levesque, 2018). However, the principle contradicts the Canadian domestic Law and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which non-discrimination based on race and ethnic origin discriminates against all other children and can be regarded as reverse racism (Lorenz, 2017).
The significance concerning the study of Canadian Social Welfare
In 2016, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal found out that the Canadian Social Welfare was racially discriminating against 165,000 First Children due to its failure to include proper implementation of the principle and deliver equitable public services. According to Blackstock (2016), this was based on Wen: De, a study released by the Family Caring Society and First Nations Child, which found out that judicial to affect the First Nation children even after the implementation of Jordans Principle.
This report recommended that the government continue to improve the efficient delivery of the First Nation. The tribunal asserted that the Canadian Federal government was discrimination and Jordans Principle is a way of achieving equality for the First Nations Children. The ambiguity of the principle has led to a continued dispute between the Federal and provincial governments but has continued to derail efficient service provision among First Nation Children. However, it is argued that the Judicial mechanism used to argue this case is not necessary for the application of the Jordans Principle, which only ensures that the First Nation child gets the service.
References
- Blackstock, C. (2016). The complainant: The Canadian human rights case on First Nations child welfare. McGill Law Journal, 62(2), 285-328.
- Levesque, A. R. (2018). Addressing Critical Gaps in Service Provision for First Nations Children in Canada: The Establishment and Expansion of Jordans Principle. Health Reform Observer–Observatoire des Réformes de Santé, 6(2).
- Lorenz, D. (2017). Reversing Racism in the Time of Reconciliation? Settler Colonialism, Race, and Alberta Teachers. Canadian Journal for New Scholars in Education/Revue canadienne des jeunes chercheures et chercheurs en éducation, 8(1).
