Pressure mounts on federal Liberals to invest in First Nations child welfare
OTTAWA — An indigenous member of Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s economic advisory council is taking issue with the federal government’s claims that First Nations agencies lack the capacity to improve services for children and families on reserve.
The federal Liberals, who took part in a unanimous House of Commons vote Tuesday to support an NDP motion on First Nations child welfare, have repeatedly argued that a phased-in approach is necessary for spending while the government works to overhaul a broken system.
Last week, Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett said a special ministerial representative — a Lakehead university professor and 2011 Liberal candidate —would lead that work along with the provinces, territories and child welfare agencies.
In the last budget, the government pledged $71 million in immediate relief.