Canada unveils revised C$23 bln compensation deal for Indigenous children
OTTAWA, April 5 (Reuters) – Canada’s federal government and a group of Indigenous people have reached a revised C$23.34 billion ($17.35 billion) agreement to compensate First Nations children and families for the decades of harm caused by a discriminatory welfare system.
The terms of the deal, announced by the Canadian government in a statement on Wednesday, were revised to broaden compensation eligibility and increase the amount from the initial C$20 billion agreed last year.
The agreement, which affects about 300,000 First Nations children, youth and families, aims to settle a complaint brought to a human rights tribunal more than 15 years ago against Canada over its funding for child welfare on reserves.
The tribunal ruled in 2016 that the federal government allocated fewer funds for child and family services of Indigenous people than for others, pushing more Indigenous children into foster care.
