Ottawa Signs $20 Billion Compensation Agreement on First Nations Child Welfare

Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Marc Miller (R) listens as Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu, appearing via video conference, speaks during a news conference regarding the order from the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal to compensate Indigenous children and their families, in Ottawa on Oct. 29, 2021. Justin Tang/The Canadian Press

Ottawa has signed a $20 billion final settlement agreement to compensate First Nations children and families after a tribunal ruled that it has underfunded child welfare payments on reserves.

In January, the federal government, the Assembly of First Nations, and plaintiffs in two class−action lawsuits reached an agreement-in-principle, in which the government committed to provide payment to First Nations children and families who were determined to be underfunded or didn’t receive public support dating back to 1991.