I am a Witness: Tribunal Timeline & Documents
The timeline below chronicles the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal case on inequitable funding for First Nations child welfare, which the Tribunal ruled amounts to discrimination.
View the pre-Tribunal timeline for a history of First Nations child and family services funding leading up the case.
2010
Tribunal allows more submissions on eve of ruling deadline.
Minister of Indian Affairs and senior INAC staff appear before the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development for study on First Nations child and family services.
Supreme Court issues ruling on Niltu'o/BCGEU labour relations case that is later used by Attorney General to bolster its case to dismiss.
Attorney General of Canada opposes APTN appeal re: broadcasting of the Tribunal.
Caring society submission supporting APTN appeal to Federal Court re broadcasting the tribunal
Tribunal hears Canada's motion to dismiss the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal on the "funding is not a service" and comparator technicalities.
Tribunal Chair Shirish Chotalia rules against APTN motion to broadcast the tribunal hearings (2010 CHRT 16).
The Caring Society and AFN supported APTN's application as this case affects children, families and communities across Canada and they have a right to watch matters affecting them.
Caring Society factum opposing Attorney General's application to dismiss at the Tribunal.
Federal Court Justice O'Reilly upholds the November 2009 Federal Court decision to stay Canada's application to dismiss the tribunal on the "funding is not a service" issue until after the tribunal is over. Canada does not appeal.
Canadian Human Rights Tribunal Chair Shirish Chotalia hears Aboriginal Peoples Television Network’s motion to broadcast the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. All parties except Canada are in favor of the tribunal being televised. Canada suggests that it’s witnesses, who are almost exclusively public servants, are concerned that their testimony might damage their relationships with First Nations. Canada also notes it is having a hard time getting witnesses to testify on their behalf and worry that televising the proceedings would make it even harder. Caring society files 17 affidavits by First Nations Elders, leaders, youth and parents who want the proceedings televised so they can follow the case.