Jordan's Principle is a child-first principle to ensure First Nations children get the services they need when they need them. 

To submit a request for services through Jordan's Principle, call: 1-855-JP-CHILD (1-855-572-4453)
Or visit canada.ca/jordans-principle. If you have any difficulties accessing services through Jordan's Principle, please contact your provincial child advocate or ombudsperson or the 24-hour Jordan's Principle line (above).

In the Spotlight:

• For more information on compensation for First Nations children and families, visit fnchildcompensation.ca
• Tribunal issues a ruling confirming four categories of eligibility for Jordan's Principle (2020 CHRT 36). These categories ensure that First Nations children living off-reserve without Indian Act status but who are recognized by their Nations can access Jordan's Principle. Read the Caring Society Information sheet on the ruling here.
• The Caring Society continues to raise concerns about Canada's implementation of Jordan's Principle. Read about our concerns and suggested remedies here (updated April 2021).

Learn more about Jordan's Principle:

• *New Report* Jordan’s Principle and Children With Disabilities and Special Needs: A Resource Guide and Analysis of Canada’s Implementation
• Jordan's Principle Information Sheet
• Infographic: How to Access Services and Supports Through Jordan's Principle
• Jordan River Anderson, The Messenger, a National Film Board documentary by celebrated filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin.
• Jordan's Principle Youth Public Service Announcement (PSA): Short version;  Long version;  American Sign Language
• Jordan's Principle FAQs 
• First Nations Child and Family Service Agency Funding Changes per the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (including information on Jordan's Principle)

Background

Jordan’s Principle is a legal rule named in memory of Jordan River Anderson, a First Nations child from Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba. Born with complex medical needs, Jordan spent more than two years unnecessarily in hospital, waiting to leave, while the Province of Manitoba and the federal government argued over who should pay for his at home care—care that would have been paid for immediately had Jordan not been First Nations. Jordan died in the hospital at the age of five years old, never having spent a day in a family home. 
 
Sadly, payment disputes within and between federal and provincial governments over services for First Nations children are not uncommon. With the support of their community of Norway House Cree Nation and others, Jordan’s family gifted his name to the creation of child-first principle to ensure First Nations children could access the services they need without denial, delay, or disruption.
 
Unfortunately, the federal government did not implement Jordan’s Principle as the family intended. Despite the unanimous support of the House of Commons in 2007 for a broad definition, the federal government went on to implement Jordan’s Principle in a manner so narrow that few, if any, First Nations children qualified.
 
In a landmark ruling on January 26, 2016, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT or Tribunal) ruled that Canada’s definition of Jordan’s Principle was discriminatory and ordered the federal government to take immediate measures to implement the full and proper scope of Jordan’s legacy.

Canada failed to comply with the Tribunal’s ruling and three months later, in April 2016, the CHRT issued its first non-compliance order against Canada. In all, the Tribunal has been forced to issue more than 15 additional orders, many of them non-compliance orders against Canada. Most recently, Canada filed for judicial review (like an appeal) of the Tribunal’s orders on eligibility for Jordan’s Principle (2020 CHRT 20 and 2020 CHRT 36). The case will be heard in Federal Court from June 14-18, 2021. Importantly, the Tribunal’s orders on eligibility for Jordan’s Principle remain in place until the Federal Court makes its decision. A full summary of the Tribunal’s orders on Jordan’s Principle is available here.