Cindy Blackstock discusses the Human Rights Tribunal, which began Sept. 14, 2009

Length: 0:16:47
Uploaded: 2 Oct, 2009

Recording Date: 17 Sep, 2009
Recording Location: CHUO 89.1FM Ottawa, Ontario
Logsheet: none
Language: English
Topical for: 1 Month
Status: Complete, Ready to Air
Copyright:
Interview with Cindy Blackstock on CHUO 89.1FM, Ottawa, ON by Lisa Abel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 Canada License.

Program Title: Human Rights complaint alleges inequitable federal funding for child welfare services on FN reserves
Description: The Human Rights complaint by the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada (FNCFCS) and the AFN alleges that the federal government has provided less funding for child welfare services on reserve than is provided to non-Aboriginal children.

Host(s): Lisa Abel
Featured Speakers/Guests: Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director, First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada (FNCFCS)

Credits: Produced by Lisa Abel, Host, THE CIRCLE @ CHUO 89.1 FM

Comments: On Monday, September 14th 2009, a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal began hearing a case which asserts the federal government is discriminating against thousands of First Nation children in the federal child welfare system.

Reports by the Auditor General of Canada (2008) and Standing Committee on Public Accounts (2009) have found that the federal government is not funding First Nations child welfare agencies at the same level as provincial services, resulting in inequitable services.

The case before the Tribunal was filed by the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society (FNCFCS). Amnesty International and the Chiefs of Ontario have also been granted intervenor status at the tribunal.

In November 2008, the federal government filed for a judicial review in Federal Court challenging the Tribunal's right to hear the case. The review began Friday September 11 2009.

Despite this judicial review, tribunal will continue. The tribunal chair has adjourned the human rights tribunal until November 16, 2009, when witness testimony will begin to be entered on the record.

Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director of the FNCFCS is encouraging supporters across Canada make a commitment to follow the case by either coming to watch the tribunal in person in Ottawa, following it in the media, or by adding their name to a list of supporters at FNWITNESS.CA

(Background info: fnwitness.ca; http://www.cnw.ca/fr/releases/archive/September2009/14/c4393.html)