Loss of Jordan's Principle Programs in First Nations
First Nations across Canada are experiencing a loss of Jordan's Principle programs due to funding changes.
Funding for Jordan's Principle services decreased from $1.72 billion in 2023-24 to $1.64 billion in 2024-25.
Onigaming First Nation in northern Ontario, which has been under a state of emergency since 2024, is among those affected. The community has seen alarmingly high death rates, including deaths by suicide.
“Just in the past four years, we’ve had 46 deaths. That’s roughly about 5 per cent of our population overall,”
said Chief Jeff Copenace. The community had been running programs to address mental health issues, including crisis response teams and an after-hours safety team.
- Crisis response teams
- An after-hours safety team that patrolled homes and the community at night
These programs aimed to ensure the safety of residents, especially children and youth.
Author's summary: First Nations lose crucial programs due to funding cuts.