Minister files partial judicial review of Ontario First Nation child welfare decision

OTTAWA — Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty says her government has filed a partial judicial review of a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal decision for a child welfare agreement she struck with First Nations in Ontario.

That $8.5-billion agreement marked a step toward resolving a dispute that began in 2007, with the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal later ruling the federal government discriminated against First Nations children in its funding of on-reserve child welfare services.

Ontario is the first jurisdiction to approve of an agreement on reforms with the federal government. Gull-Masty said Friday she’s working with others on separate deals after a national agreement was struck down twice by First Nations.

In a decision letter released in March, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal said two First Nations will not be covered by the Ontario final agreement.