Parents in Corner Brook reach 'boiling point' over cuts to student support through Jordan's Principle

A group of 36 parents came together in Corner Brook, N.L., on Thursday evening to explore ways to secure educational support for their special needs children following cuts to assistance they receive under the federal Jordan's Principle policy.

Patti Lynn MacDonald of Lark Harbour organized the event through a Facebook group with more 145 members — many of them parents who learned on the first day of school last week their children would be receiving less support

"That was the boiling point for us all. Like, our kids need more resources than that. And my kid is going to digress in his education if he doesn't get the resources that he needs," MacDonald told CBC News.

"We saw a significant decrease in Jordan's Principle this year, so we're all here to gather to take notes and try to figure out what our desired outcome [is] … what we can get done for our children."

Jordan's Principle is a federal policy that aims to ensure First Nations children have access to health care and social and educational support, through funding from Indigenous Services Canada, such as medical equipment, one-on-one time with student assistants and mental health services. Funding applications can come from individuals like parents and guardians or organizations and institutions, including schools.

MacDonald's son has had full assistance since Grade 5 for six hours a day in the classroom. This year, her son's time has been cut to 2½ hours.

"We're all in the same boat, and it's really nice to be around other moms and dads that's going through the same thing. We know what we're going to do. We know that we got to get our children in school, and we need to get them the resources that they need," she said.

MacDonald and other parents at the meeting hope to meet with interim Education Minister John Haggie to share their stories in person.

Danette Payne, who drove three hours from Port Saunders to attend the meeting after seeing a reduction in the support her 17-year-old daughter receives, said the parents were united in their mission for change, sharing stories and seeking solutions for over two hours.

"If we don't fight for their rights and stick together as a group, then what else can we do?" Payne said. "My girlie's non-verbal. And if I can't be her voice, no one else will."

In a statement, a spokesperson for Indigenous Services Canada says the number of funding applications is increasing, and applicants can contact the federal government with questions about their request.

"Indigenous Services Canada is continuing to increase funding for products, services and supports to First Nations children," said Eric Head in the statement.

"Since 2016, ISC has invested nearly $8.1 billion to meet health, social, and education needs of First Nations children through Jordan's Principle, working collaboratively to develop processes and operations to meet the growing volume of requests."

CBC News has made repeated requests for interviews with the provincial Education Department about the effects in Newfoundland and Labrador schools but the department is refusing interviews.

However, Liberal MHA Gerry Byrne, who attended the meeting as the representative for Corner Brook, said he'd work with the group to learn more about the reasons for the cuts.

"This is very much an evolving issue," Byrne told CBC News, who said the issues affecting Jordan's Principle are "completely opaque" to the provincial Education Department.

"The Jordan's Principle program does not provide any access to the provincial government or to the Department of Education on its administrative functions and processes. It just simply tells them, 'We've got an application,' and then it tells them whether or not they're going to approve it."

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