Yesterday, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services Canada, together with Perry Bellegarde, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, participated in a signing ceremony for a Protocol that was co-developed by both organizations to establish a new structure to support discussions on the implementation of the Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families.
Key elements of the Protocol include:
- A commitment to regular bilateral meetings on the Act and on the co-development of schedule and agenda;
- Support for the development of national distinctions-based policy through the establishment of the Joint National Working Group on Legislative Implementation in relation to First Nations;
- The development and creation of tools and mechanisms at the federal level to support implementation of the Act; and
- The establishment of a Joint Fiscal Table on First Nations Child and Family Services reform to explore and identify fiscal issues relevant to First Nations implementation of the legislation.
On June 21st, 2019, an Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Metis children, youth and families became an official law. The provisions within the Act, that was co-developed with Indigenous, provincial and territorial partners came into force on January 1st, 2020. The Act affirms the rights of First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples to exercise their jurisdiction over child and family services and established national principles such as the best interests of the child, cultural continuity and substantive equality. For more information on the Act, click here.
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