N.L. ready to spend millions to support parents affected by Jordan's Principle cuts, MHA says
Cutbacks, delays to Jordan's Principle left special needs students without assistance
A Newfoundland and Labrador MHA says the province is ready and willing to provide educational support funding to children with exceptionalities impacted through delays to a federally funded program.
Gerry Byrne, the Liberal MHA for Corner Brook, told CBC News on Friday that the Newfoundland and Labrador government will spend millions of dollars to support families affected by cutbacks to funding through Jordan's Principle until the end of the calendar year.
"After consultations with the parents of the kids that need that support, the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, based on a commitment from Ottawa from our regional minister, Gudie Hutchings, that temporary gap will now be filled by the province, and we will support those children," Byrne said.
Jordan's Principle is a federal principle that ensures First Nations children have access to health care, social and educational support through funding from Indigenous Services Canada. It can be used to purchase things like medical equipment, mental health services, and — in the case of education — one-on-one time with student assistants.
CBC reporting in September discovered cutbacks and delays in funding from the federal and provincial governments that left some students without assistants.
Byrne said the province will spend "whatever it takes" to put student assistant positions in place and make sure students are supported — on the condition that Ottawa gives the funding back to the province in the future.
"Ottawa has a constitutional obligation here. Education of Indigenous children is a shared responsibility, it is not the exclusive responsibility of Newfoundland and Labrador. That's where Jordan's Principle comes from," he said. "I'm really delighted that they've taken this approach."
Byrne said the province is also exploring other avenues for funding. Earlier this week, Hutchings said the province could avail of the money it gets from the federal Labour Market Development Agreement to hire student assistants — which Byrne said was new information.
CBC News asked Hutchings for comment on if and when funding through Jordan's Principle will be reinstated. In an emailed statement Friday evening, spokesperson Kevin Lemkay said the province is responsible for ensuring First Nations children in off-reserve schools have the supports they need through Jordan's Principle.
Parent leading calls for support surprised by announcement
The funding was a welcome surprise for Jennifer Broadbent, a Corner Brook mother who relied on Jordan's Principle to help her son, Obie.
Obie has PURA Syndrome, and used funding from Jordan's Principle to help pay for a walker, accessible van and, in past school years, helped pay salaries for a student assistant to be with him.
This year, Obie was only allocated 1 ½ hours a day of support due to cutbacks and delays in funding, which kept him out of school over safety concerns until two weeks ago.
Broadbent was among parents leading calls for the province to meet with parents and hear their concerns. She said Friday's announcement was a surprise — given that she learned about it from CBC News.
"I sent several emails to Minister Byrne and Minister Haggie urging them to please meet with us … and I didn't get any response," she said.
"I'm grateful that the funding [is there], that they're willing to do this, but also I feel like they still haven't heard us and they still haven't sat with us and listen to what we actually need."
Byrne did attend a meeting in September where parents outlined concerns and assessed options for getting more funding. Broadbent also told CBC News late Friday that she was contacted by interim Education Minister John Haggie to set up a meeting in the coming weeks.
"We were in sort of crisis mode, and this seems like, you know, a reaction to crisis mode," Broadbent added.
Broadbent said she'd like to learn more about exactly where the money can be spent, highlighting a need for both student assistants and instructional resource teachers.
She's also now looking to the future, like what funding will be available after December.
Byrne was blunt in his assessment of future funding.
"Obviously, Jordan's Principle will be resolved by then," he said. "I mean [Gudie Hutchings] said this is temporary, so that is why we've set ... an expectation that by at least January, Jordan's Principle and Ottawa will get its act together."
Indigenous Services Canada is working to process student applications, according to a statement from Hutchings's office.
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With files from Colleen Connors and Bernice Hillier