National Indigenous group files court application over inadequate funding during Covid-19

A National Indigenous group has filed a court application over the inadequate and discriminatory funding during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples and its Provincial and Territorial Organizations today filed an urgent court application over the federal government’s inadequate and discriminatory funding during the COVID-19 pandemic.

National Chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples Robert Bertrand stated, “The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples and our provincial and territorial partners provide critically needed support and deliver services to many of the most susceptible Canadians. The federal government has abandoned its responsibility towards a significant number of Indigenous peoples during this pandemic.”

The court application challenges the funding allocation under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The application seeks to address the fact that despite the federal government’s goals the funding allocations have been discriminatory. The support must address, Elders and others, health care, housing, food insecurity, educational and other support for children and mental health services.