Engagement on potential legislation co-developed with Indigenous communities on child and family services
Current status: Closed
Throughout the summer and fall of 2018, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) engaged with First Nations, Inuit and Métis leaders and experts, as well as Treaty Nations, provinces and territories and those with lived experience, on options for potential federal legislation. Additional engagements took place with Indigenous, provincial, and territorial partners in January 2019 to gather feedback on the content of the draft bill.
Why
The Government of Canada has been engaging with Indigenous partners across the country to co-develop options for potential federal legislation on Indigenous child and family services. The over-representation of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation children in care is a humanitarian crisis. New legislation could support Indigenous families to raise their children within their homelands and nations and increase efforts to address the root causes of child apprehension, which include poverty, poor housing conditions, inter-generational trauma and culturally-biased child welfare practices.
Find out more about the timeline for reforming child and family services.
About the engagement
The Government of Canada has worked closely with Indigenous partners to:
- co- develop engagement tools
- co-develop options for potential federal legislation
- discuss the purpose, timing and scope of any potential legislation
- ensure that the distinct cultures, needs and aspirations of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation peoples are understood and reflected in any potential legislation
The Government of Canada has also worked with provincial and territorial counterparts to:
- understand how federal legislation would complement provincial and territorial regimes
- help inform the content of potential legislation
- respect existing jurisdictional responsibilities
- avoid any unintended consequences
How child and family services work right now
Currently, provinces and territories set legislation and standards for child and family services. Through the First Nations Child and Family Services program, ISC funds child and family services agencies established, managed and controlled by First Nations and delegated by provincial authorities to provide prevention and protection services. ISC also funds provinces and the Yukon to deliver services where delegated agencies do not exist.
Funding for child and family services in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories is provided by the Department of Finance Canada through transfer payment agreements with the territorial governments, which make up a portion of their annual budgets. These governments decide how and where to spend the funds.
The Government of Canada currently has no defined role in child and family services for Inuit and the Métis Nation.
How is legislation developed?
Developing and enacting legislation is a multi-step process. Engagements were held across the country in order to determine options for potential federal legislation. As a result of intensive engagements throughout 2018, the Government of Canada and First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation leaders announced, in November 2018, they will move forward with federal legislation that would benefit children and families of First Nations, Inuit and the Métis Nation.
To learn more about how legislation is drafted and how a bill becomes law, consult The Legislative Process: From Government Policy to Proclamation.
About co-development
Co-development encourages information sharing and creativity in order to achieve the best possible outcome. Co-development is an evidence-based collaboration process drawing from different sources of knowledge, expertise and perspectives, including:
- values and cultural practices
- lived experience
- academic research
It is also based on the sharing of information with a view to unlock creativity from partners and facilitate the best possible outcome.
Who
The Government of Canada has been engaging with:
- national and regional First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation organizations
- parties to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal complaint on First Nations child welfare and Jordan's Principle
- experts and First Nations, Inuit and Métis child welfare advocates
- women's organizations
- First Nations, Inuit and Métis youth with lived experience
- First Nations, Inuit and Métis Elders and grandmothers
- provinces and territories
What
The engagement included:
- face-to-face meetings and discussions with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Nation leadership at the national and regional levels
- community level town hall engagements
How to participate
Input for the engagement sessions was collected throughout the summer and fall of 2018.
Feedback on what legislation could do or visions for the future of the program continue to be welcome.
You can submit your feedback by email at: sac.sefreforme-cfsreform.isc@canada.ca
Or by regular mail to:
Child and Family Services Reform
10 rue Wellington 22nd Floor
Gatineau QC K1A 0H4
When and where
Over 65 engagement sessions were held across Canada involving nearly 2000 participants.
Section will be updated to include additional engagement sessions.
| Participating region | Date | Participating groups |
|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | 2018/07/26 | First Nations Leadership Council |
| British Columbia | 2018/07/26 | Delegated Aboriginal Agencies' Directors Forum |
| British Columbia | 2018/08/21 | Huu-ay-aht Nation |
| British Columbia | 2018/08/27 | Indigenous communities, including those not represented by the Delegated Aboriginal Agencies |
| British Columbia | 2018/09/05 and 2018/09/06 | Indigenous communities, including those not represented by the Delegated Aboriginal Agencies |
| British Columbia | 2018/09/26 | Tsilhqot'in Nation Chiefs, board and staff |
| British Columbia | 2018/09/26 and 2018/09/27 | Engagement session with British Columbia First Nations |
| British Columbia | 2018/10/15 | Youth and persons with lived experience engagement session |
| British Columbia | 2018/10/16 | Youth and persons with lived experience engagement session |
| British Columbia | 2018/10/17 | Youth and persons with lived experience engagement session |
| British Columbia | 2018/10/17 | Minister's engagement with Secwe̓pemc Nation Tribal Council |
| British Columbia | 2018|2018/10/22 | Youth and persons with lived experience engagement session |
| Alberta | 2018/07/17 | Treaty 6 Gathering, Cold Lake |
| Alberta | 2018/08/23 | Treaty 7 First Nations and the Stoney Nakota: Tsuut'ina Tribal Council |
| Alberta | 2018/08/27 | Treaty 8 Elder Advisory Council |
| Alberta | 2018/08/28 and 2018/08/29 | Treaty 8 Special Assembly of Chiefs |
| Alberta | 2018/08/30 | Treaty 7 First Nations and the Stoney Nakota: Tsuut'ina Tribal Council |
| Alberta | 2018/09/05 | Non-delegated First Nation Agencies and their respective chiefs |
| Alberta | 2018/09/05 | All Treaty 6 chiefs |
| Alberta | 2018/09/05 | Blackfoot Confederacy Chiefs |
| Alberta | 2018/09/10 | Treaty 7: Stoney-Nakoda Tsuut'ina |
| Alberta | 2018/09/10 | Treaty 7: Blackfoot Confederacy |
| Alberta | 2018/09/10 | Treaty 8 |
| Alberta | 2018/09/10 | Non-Delegated First Nation Agencies |
| Alberta | 2018/09/10 | Treaty 6 |
| Saskatchewan | 2018/09/06 | First Nations child and family services agencies executive directors |
| Saskatchewan | 2018/09/11 | Saskatoon Tribal Council |
| Saskatchewan | 2018/09/11 | Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations |
| Saskatchewan | 2018/09/12 | Saskatchewan First Nations Family and Community Institute with the executive directors and board chairs of the First Nation child and family services agencies |
| Saskatchewan | 2018/09/25 | Saskatchewan First Nations Family and Community Institute with the executive directors and board chairs of the First Nation child and family services agencies |
| Saskatchewan | 2018/10/04 | Youth and persons with lived experience engagement session |
| Manitoba | 2018/06/29 |
|
| Manitoba | 2018/08/23 | Southeast Child and Family Services meeting |
| Manitoba | 2018/09/06 |
|
| Manitoba | 2018/09/06 | Southern Chiefs Organization and guests |
| Manitoba | 2018/09/18 | First Nations Child and Family Services Good Governance Conference hosted by the Southern First Nations Network of Care |
| Manitoba | 2018/09/26 | Southern Chiefs Organization, Chief's Summit |
| Manitoba | 2018/09/26 |
|
| Ontario | 2018/07/09 | Anishnabek Nation |
| Ontario | 2018/07/10 | Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve (attended by Manitoulin Island communities and other members of Anishinabek Nation) |
| Ontario | 2018/08/02 | Association of Native Child and Family Services Agencies of Ontario (attended by the executive directors and staff of Ontario's predesignated and designated Indigenous Child and Family Services Agencies) |
| Ontario | 2018/08/20 | Primarily attended by:
|
| Ontario | 2018/08/22 | Primarily attended by members of independent First Nations |
| Ontario | 2018/08/24 | Primarily attended by Grand Council Treaty No. 3 First Nations |
| Ontario | 2018/09/17 | Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians in Southwold |
| Ontario | 2018/09/28 | First Nations associated with North Shore Tribal Council and members of Nogdawindamin Family and Community Services |
| Quebec | 2018/08/29 | James Bay Cree |
| Quebec | 2018/08/29 |
|
| Quebec | 2018/08/22 | Atikamekw |
| Quebec | 2018/09/13 | Directors of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission in Montreal |
| New Brunswick | 2018/08/22 | Chiefs of New Brunswick, band managers and agencies |
| New Brunswick | 2018/08/29 | Chiefs of New Brunswick, band managers and agencies |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | 2018/10/11 | The Innu Nation |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | 2018/10/17 | Miawpukek First Nation |
| Nova Scotia | 2018/10/11 | Kwilmu'kw Maw-klusuaqn |
| Prince Edward Island | 2018/08/28 | Mi'kmaq of Prince Edward Island |
| Prince Edward Island | 2018/10/10 and 2018/10/11 |
|
| Northwest Territories | 2018/06/25 | Inuvialuit Regional Corporation |
| Northwest Territories | 2018/06/25 | Gwich'in Tribal Council |
| Northwest Territories | 2018/10/22 and 2018/10/23 | Engagement session with the Gwich'in Tribal Council |
| Yukon | 2018/09/20 | Yukon First Nations Health and Social Development Commission Directors' meeting |
| National | 2018/08/22 and 2018/08/23 | Métis National Council's child and family services reform working group |
| National (held in Ottawa) | 2018/08/18 and 2018/08/19 | Native Women's Association of Canada Board of Directors |
| National (held by phone) | 2018/09/18 | Indigenous Women's Circle at Status of Women |
| National (held in Ottawa) | 2018/09/17 and 2018/09/18 | Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami |
Contact us
Child and Family Services Branch
Indigenous Services Canada
10 rue Wellington 22nd floor
Gatineau QC K1A 0H4
Email: sac.sefreforme-cfsreform.isc@canada.ca
Related links
- Continuing the conversation: engagement questions
- Kit for conducting an engagement session on child and family services
- Reforming First Nations child welfare: Summary of engagement
- A report on children and families together: An emergency meeting on Indigenous child and family services
- First Nations Child and Family Services Program
- Jane Philpott Speaks at Special Chiefs Assembly on Federal Legislation, May 2, 2018
- Speech of Minister Jane Philpott at the Emergency Meeting on First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation Child and Family Services, January 25, 2018
- Information sheet: Canadian Human Rights Tribunal 2016 Decisions on First Nations Child Welfare and Jordan's Principle (PDF, 129 Kb, 5 pages)
- The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (PDF)