Ottawa is committing $1.55 billion in support of Jordan’s Principle, which says First Nations children must have equal access to social and health services.
Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty made the funding announcement in Ottawa on Feb. 26. The funding responds to “sustained demand” over the last decade, and will support access to “essential supports” for First Nations children, Indigenous Services Canada said in a Feb. 26 news release.
“The renewal provides immediate stability for families and enables communities to deliver services with confidence as efforts to reform Jordan’s Principle in partnership with First Nations leadership and families continue,” the department said.
Jordan’s Principle is named after Jordan River Anderson of Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba. Born in 1999 with multiple disabilities, he remained in hospital for several years while the federal and provincial governments disputed responsibility for funding his at-home care. He died in hospital at the age of five in 2005.
According to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, Jordan’s Principle is meant to prevent First Nations children from “being denied essential public services or experiencing delays in receiving them” when there is a jurisdictional dispute involving their care.
Under the principle, the government department that is first contacted is required to pay for the service. The department can then seek reimbursement from the other department or level of government as appropriate, after the child has received the service.
The new federal funding is set to renew Jordan’s Principle until March 31, 2027.
Indigenous Services Canada said that between July 2016 and Sept. 30, 2025, more than 10 million products, services, and supports were approved under the principle.
The Liberals had promised during the 2025 election campaign that they would extend funding of Jordan’s Principle.
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
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