Loss of Jordan's Principle Programs in First Nations
First Nations across Canada are experiencing a loss of Jordan's Principle programs due to funding changes.
Funding for Jordan's Principle services decreased from $1.72 billion in 2023-24 to $1.64 billion in 2024-25.
Onigaming First Nation in northern Ontario, under a state of emergency since 2024, reported a significant impact.
“Just in the past four years, we’ve had 46 deaths. That’s roughly about 5 per cent of our population overall,”
said Chief Jeff Copenace. The nation had programs for mental health, including crisis response teams and safety patrols.
- Crisis response teams
- After-hours safety team patrolling homes and community at night
These programs aimed to ensure the safety of residents, especially children and youth.
Author's summary: First Nations face loss of Jordan's Principle programs.