N.L. extends Jordan's Principle funding, but Corner Brook parent says federal money still isn't enough
Parents and students can't afford repeat of last school year's problems, said Jennifer Broadbent
As Newfoundland and Labrador extends educational support funding to children with exceptionalities after delays to Jordan's Principle funding, a Corner Brook parent says she and other parents can't afford to have a repeat of the start of last school year.
The province initially offered financial support to children and parents who avail of Jordan's Principle in October.
Now, as delays to the federal assistance program drag on, the Department of Education confirmed to CBC News in an email on Tuesday that it will continue to support people at their current allocation until the end of the school year.
The province has allocated $6.4 million to maintain the current support levels students have, the email said, and will ask the federal government to be reimbursed.
But for Jennifer Broadbent of Corner Brook, the current allocation was never enough to properly support her son, Obie.
"I think most people are in the same boat. And that is, you know, our children aren't receiving the same educational supports that they received in previous years," Broadbent said last week. "They still have the same supports they had in September, which is less than in previous years."
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.
Obie had an assistant at his side full-time through Grade 2, Broadbent said, but learned in Grade 3 that his time with an assistant would be split among other children due to cuts in Jordan's Principle allocations. A long backlog of applications through Jordan's Principle only added to stress for parents in September.
In November, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ordered the federal government to act on the backlog immediately. On Dec. 20, the government challenged that ruling, seeking to set it aside.
"I'm very defensive of Jordan's Principle because … they've just been invaluable to us," Broadbent said.
"I do hear about the backlog, and we've been involved in that as well. Which is, you know, frustrating. But whenever I think about the sort of fight between government and the Indigenous people, it just brings me back to why Jordan's Principle came to be."
In an emailed statement to CBC News, Indigenous Services Canada spokesperson Jennifer Cooper said the group and the government remain in mediation. The group is taking "immediate steps" to address the backlog, Cooper said.
I know I wouldn't feel comfortable bringing Obie to school if I didn't feel like he was safe and thriving.- Jennifer Broadbent
Broadbent said she hopes a resolution can be found, but is also worried about what happens after June when provincial support runs out.
She kept Obie home in the first weeks of the school year out of concern for his safety, and said she wouldn't hesitate to do it again.
"We just don't feel OK," Broadbent said.
"It's really difficult to just go to school and hand off your child and trust that everything is going to be in place. You know, we have hope that it will be ... [but] if we don't have it in September, I can't speak for all parents, but I know I wouldn't feel comfortable bringing Obie to school if I didn't feel like he was safe and thriving."
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