Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty says $8.5 billion in federal funding will start going to Ontario First Nations on May 29 to help them take back control of child welfare services in their communities.
The funding comes from a major agreement between Ottawa and 131 Ontario First Nations aimed at improving child and family services on reserves. The money will support programs such as housing, food security, addiction treatment, and child welfare facilities.
Leaders say the agreement will help communities make their own decisions about caring for children and keeping them connected to their culture. First Nations and service providers will also report to the federal government on how the money is spent.
The deal follows years of legal battles over claims that Canada underfunded First Nations child welfare services. In 2016, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruled that the federal government discriminated against First Nations children.
The Ontario agreement could become a model for similar deals across Canada as talks continue with First Nations groups in other regions.
