Treaty 8 Chiefs Back Lawsuit Against Alberta, Federal Governments Over Child Welfare

By Jeremy Appel  Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Treaty 8 First Nations chiefs are supporting a lawsuit launched by current and former Indigenous foster children alleging the Alberta government pocketed federal funds intended for children in care. The suit alleges that children’s special allowances (CSA), which are intended to match funds for children whose parents receive the Canada Child Benefit, have been used as general revenue by Alberta governments dating back to 1993. Under the CSA, children under the age of six are entitled to a monthly $620 payment while children six and over are entitled to $520. “The Province of Alberta by its actions was essentially using children in care as a source of revenue, to offset its funding obligations of child welfare. And that is just wrong,” plaintiff lawyer…

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