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April 22, 2009

A Statement to the Legislature by the Honourable Brad Duguid on Jordan's Principle

The Honourable Brad Duguid, Deputy House Leader and Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, rises in the Legislature to speak about Jordan's Principle.

Queen's Park
Toronto, Ontario

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Statement

Mr. Speaker:

I rise today to speak about Jordan's Principle.

Before I begin I would like to take a moment to acknowledge our esteemed guests, who are here with us today in acknowledgement of the importance of Jordan's Principle, and to endorse our government's support of this important initiative.

Thank you for joining us here today.

I would also like to acknowledge that I am speaking today on behalf of the government of Ontario and my respected colleagues.

I would like to thank the Honourable Deb Matthews, Minister of Children and Youth Services, the Honourable Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community and Social Services and the Honourable David Caplan, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, for their support and assistance with this important initiative.

Jordan Anderson, for whom this Principle is named, was born on a northern Manitoba reserve in 1999 with a complex disorder requiring special care.

When Jordan died at age four, he had spent his entire life in a hospital, far from his family's community, because the province of Manitoba and the federal government argued over who should pay for his care.

In a nation as wealthy as Canada, no child should experience what young Jordan Anderson did. Nor should any family in Canada be presented with such heart wrenching choices as the Andersons were.

The McGuinty government believes that today's children are tomorrow's leaders, which is why this government invests heavily in the health, safety and well-being of all Ontario children.

We are a leader in providing seamless services for children. In Ontario we take an inclusive approach, putting patient care ahead of jurisdictional issues and apply this principle when children like Jordan need help.

This government believes that children's health, safety and well-being must always take precedence over matters of jurisdiction.

It is time that we specifically acknowledge that a child-first policy is the only appropriate way to manage complex care cases in Canada.

Jordan's Principle puts the needs of children first and supports the notion that needed health care should not be delayed or disrupted because of jurisdictional disputes.

Ontario fully supports Jordan's Principle and pledges to work with First Nations and the federal government to ensure Jordan's Principle is honoured and applied in the province of Ontario.

Providing Aboriginal children with the opportunity to reach their full potential is one of the reasons that the McGuinty government created the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs and Ontario's Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth.

Ontario, in partnership with First Nations, Métis and Inuit, is working hard to improve the quality of life for Aboriginal peoples.

We invest about $600 million annually on programs and services for Aboriginal people. About $300 million of this essential funding goes to Aboriginal child and social services.

We invest in the Aboriginal Healthy Babies Healthy Children program, which is designed to help all Aboriginal children in Ontario get the best start in life.

We also contribute funding to the Aboriginal Health Access Centres through the Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy (AHWS). “Ah-zzz” funds more than 460 health, healing and anti-violence programs in Aboriginal communities, both on- and off-reserve, improving the lives and health of people and communities.

So, today, I am affirming this government's commitment to Jordan's Principle; a commitment by the Government of Ontario to ensure it is honoured and applied in this province.

This government promises to work with First Nation families, communities and the federal government to make certain that jurisdictional disputes do not prevent the timely provision of health and social services for First Nation children in Ontario.

While Jordan's Principle is about equal treatment by governments, the spirit of this principle should be understood and considered by all public servants in all ministries in every government in this country.

I am committed to working with my colleagues in other ministries to ensure equal treatment and access across all the programs and services we provide – with the full participation and involvement of our First Nation, Métis and Inuit partners.

Aboriginal children and youth should have access to the same quality of services that all Ontarians receive. They should have access to the same opportunities and choices available to us all.

Before I close, I would also like to acknowledge and thank all of the many people who supported and stood behind Jordan and his family.

Because of their efforts much will be accomplished:

Jordan Anderson will be forever remembered and honoured
future complex care cases of First Nation children will be treated with the compassion and dignity they deserve, and
Ontario will ensure that Aboriginal children will not have needed care delayed as a result of jurisdictional disputes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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