4-19-12 Links Roundup
- Federal Court Ruling Could Open Door To Equal Funding For Native Kids (The Toronto Star)
A landmark federal court ruling opens the door to provide First Nations children living on reserve the same amount of funding other kids receive in the rest of Canada, aboriginal leaders say.
On Wednesday, the Federal Court ruled the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal could not dismiss a complaint by First Nations groups that alleged Ottawa underfunds child welfare services for on-reserve kids and that this amounts to discrimination.
“This is a great day for kids,” said Cindy Blackstock, executive director of the First Nations Family Caring Society, a non-profit research and advocacy agency.
Justice Anne MacTavish said the tribunal erred in failing to provide any reasons as to why the complaint could not proceed under the Canadian Human Rights Act.