The federal government has significantly reduced funding for First Nations children in Ontario seeking educational support through Jordan’s Principle. According to information presented at a tribunal hearing, the funding was slashed from $122.1 million to $1.2 million between 2024 and 2025. This dramatic decrease occurred after Indigenous Services Canada implemented a new “operational bulletin,” which restricted the services covered under the legal initiative.
Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation submitted these statistics as evidence at the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, where they are accusing the government of consistently underfunding on-reserve schools in the province. Chief Margaret Sault expressed her shock at the drastic funding cuts, emphasizing that such setbacks are unfortunately not uncommon for First Nations communities.
The First Nation argues that Canada’s education funding model, initially introduced as a temporary measure in 2019-20 but never replaced, is insufficient, discriminatory, and perpetuates the historical harms suffered by children in residential schools. The ongoing hearing, which began in October last year, aims to address these issues.
Lawyer Kent Elson, representing Mississaugas of the Credit, highlighted that the funding disparities reveal a failure to meet the educational needs of First Nations children. The data disclosed during the proceedings showed a significant decline in approved Jordan’s Principle applications and funding allocation in Ontario following the implementation of the new operational procedures.
Furthermore, the approval rate for education requests in Ontario dropped from 90% to 28% after the changes, indicating a substantial impact on accessing vital support services. Canada’s argument about jurisdiction, suggesting limited authority to address underfunding, has been criticized as shameful by Elson and others involved in the case.
Indigenous Services Canada declined to provide comments on the matter due to the ongoing tribunal proceedings. The department previously stated its commitment to adequately funding education for First Nations children in their communities while acknowledging the unique needs of these students.
The hearing continued with additional testimony regarding Jordan’s Principle from a federal witness, emphasizing the significance of addressing the funding disparities to ensure equitable access to education for Indigenous children.