Jordan's Principle

Jordan River Anderson ensuring First Nations children have access to the services they need.

Honouring Jordan River Anderson

Every child deserves access to services like health care and educational supports. However, First Nations children have not always had access to the same services as other Canadian children. This is because different levels of government fund different services for First Nations children, which has led to disputes between governments about who should pay for which services.

Jordan's Story

Jordan River Anderson was a First Nations child from Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba. He was born in 1999 with multiple disabilities that required hospitalization from birth. When he was two years old, doctors determined that Jordan could receive home-based care. However, the federal and provincial governments could not agree on who was financially responsible for the necessary at-home care. The dispute continued for over two years. Jordan stayed in the hospital until he passed away in 2005.

What is Jordan’s Principle?

In 2007, the House of Commons passed a motion that created Jordan’s Principle, named in memory of Jordan. Jordan’s Principle holds that First Nations children must not be denied access to public services due to jurisdictional disputes about which government should pay for the service. It is a child-first principle wherein the government of first contact pays for the service and jurisdictional disputes are resolved later. Jordan’s Principle applies to all First Nations children who are under the age of majority and have an identified need for a service or support, regardless of their health, social status, or place of residence (on or off reserve).

What is Covered?

Each child’s situation is unique, and the services covered by Jordan’s Principle are equally diverse. Any public service that is available to all other Canadian children is included in Jordan’s Principle coverage. If a service is not necessarily available to other children or is an exceptional service, the child will still have their needs evaluated to determine if the service will ensure substantive equality. Services above normative standards are also considered in the name of substantive equity.

Work Plan

Starting March 24,2021
We have a new Jordan’s Principle Cooridinator
for the Region

Introducing Agnes Brown to this new role, for the following regions.

(Vancouver Island- Serving 7 Nuu-chah-nulth Communities and Nations-Ahousaht, Hesquiaht, Tla-o-qui-aht, Ucluelet, Toquot, Hupacasath, Tseshaht, as well as indigenous children in Tofino, Ucluelet and Port Alberni areas.

More information and Links available