Honouring our commitment to First Nations children and youth: Jordan’s Principle

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By the First Nations Health Consortium

Since beginning operations in 2017, the First Nations Health Consortium (FNHC) has been dedicated to “working together, honouring, advocating, and enabling equitable access to meet the needs of our First Nations People.” Our work is grounded in the values of compassion, fairness, respect, and love, and guided by a vision of continuity of care and enhanced service coordination.

Through our Enhanced Service Coordination model, FNHC supports all Alberta First Nations children— both on and off-reserve—by helping families access essential services through Jordan’s Principle. These services span health, education, social supports, and more, ensuring children can live healthy, happy, and thriving lives.

What is Jordan’s Principle?

Jordan’s Principle is a child-first legal ruling that aims to eliminate service inequities and delays for First Nations and Inuit children. The Principle states that any public service ordinarily available to all other Canadian children must be made available to First Nations and Inuit children without delay or denial. Jordan’s Principle is a legal obligation with no end date.

Jordan’s Principle was named in memory of Jordan River Anderson, a young boy from Norway House Cree Nation, who tragically died after spending more than two years unnecessarily in hospital while the Government of Canada and Province of Manitoba argued over payment for his at-home care.

In response to this tragedy, after years of advocacy by Jordan’s family, communities and leadership, the House of Commons unanimously passed Private Members’ Motion No. 296 in support of the creation of Jordan’s Principle in 2007.

After the bill had passed, there were still delays in implementation and formal complaints were made to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, who have ruled several times to further clarify the scope and definition of Jordan’s Principle and push the federal government to apply Jordan’s Principle throughout the country.

Improving access to care for First Nations and Inuit families

Accessing health care can be a complex and challenging process for many First Nations and Inuit families, particularly for those with children who have complex needs. These children often face barriers in obtaining care from physicians and other regulated professionals. Such systemic challenges are especially evident in remote communities, where limited awareness of Jordan’s Principle can further hinder access to essential services.

The FNHC is dedicated to supporting families in navigating these challenges. This includes assistance with applications, providing letters of support, and helping families understand service eligibility. FNHC also acknowledges the significant role those social determinants of health play, and the distinct realities experienced by families living both on and off-reserve.

The role of physicians: a call to collaborate

A recent survey by the Canadian Pediatric Society revealed that knowledge gaps regarding Jordan’s Principle remain common among pediatricians. 90% of respondents indicated they were aware of Jordan’s Principle before completing the survey, but only about half could correctly identify eligibility criteria. This highlights a critical need for education, collaboration, and stronger communication between healthcare professionals and organizations like the FNHC. Physicians play a vital role in supporting First Nations children and families.

As physicians, your involvement is essential in creating meaningful, lasting solutions. We ask that you share Jordan’s Principle with your colleagues and discuss how you, as a team, can work to ensure access to essential services for First Nations and Inuit children. We believe that by working together, we can build a more inclusive and responsive healthcare system for all children in Alberta.

To learn more about Jordan’s Principle, visit the Jordan’s Principle page on the Government of Canada website.