Demand that the Canadian Government Endorse the Spirit Bear Plan Attention all UFCW Canada members and allies! Sign a digital letter to demand that the Canadian government endorse the Spirit Bear Plan. The 5-point plan would ensure the historic harms perpetrated against Indigenous peoples are never repeated. Take action now BACKGROUND – In January 2016, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) found the Government of Canada to discriminate against First Nations children living on reserve and in the Territories by chronically underfunding services freely accessed by non-Indigenous persons across Canada. This violates Jordan’s Principle, a child-first principle in Canada, which ensures that First Nations children have access to the services they need. In April 2023, a settlement regarding the Tribunal’s 2016 decision totalling $23 Billion dollars was reached between the Government of Canada, the Assembly of First Nations and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society (Caring Society). However, it followed years of appeals to the 2016 ruling and amounted to millions of dollars in government funds spent on challenging the Tribunal’s decision. UFCW Canada has a long-standing partnership with the Caring Society. Show your solidarity by demanding that the Canadian government endorse The Spirit Bear Plan and tell Prime Minister Trudeau that enough is enough! It took the Canadian government more than 7 years to agree to comply with the Human Rights Tribunal decision! The government has not shown any support for the Spirit Bear Plan, a plan which identifies the work that remains in restoring justice for First Nations children. The government needs to demonstrate that it is committed to these ongoing actions. Find out more about The Spirit Bear Plan by visiting: https://fncaringsociety.com/spirit-bear-plan. Help support justice for First Nations children by sending your message below!Name: E-mail: Message: To: Honourable Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Honourable Minister of Justice and Attorney General Arif Virani Dear Prime Minister Trudeau and Minister Virani: We applaud you on the April 2023 settlement reached with the Assembly of First Nations and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society regarding the 2016 Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) decision which found the Canadian government to discriminate against First Nations children. We are disappointed that it took more than 7 years for the Canadian government to fully comply with this ruling. We urge you to demonstrate your commitment to justice for First Nations people by endorsing the Spirit Bear Plan. In doing so, you will demonstrate that the Canadian government is committed to active engagement with First Nations leaders in repairing the inequities of the past. Spirit Bear calls on: 1. CANADA to immediately comply with all rulings by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ordering it to immediately cease its discriminatory funding of First Nations child and family services. The order further requires Canada to fully and properly implement Jordan's Principle (www.jordansprinciple.ca). 2. PARLIAMENT to ask the Parliamentary Budget Officer to publicly cost out the shortfalls in all federally funded public services provided to First Nations children, youth and families (education, health, water, child welfare, etc.) and propose solutions to fix it. 3. GOVERNMENT to consult with First Nations to co-create a holistic Spirit Bear Plan to end all of the inequalities (with dates and confirmed investments) in a short period of time sensitive to children's best interests, development and distinct community needs. 4. GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS providing services to First Nations children and families to undergo a thorough and independent 360° evaluation to identify any ongoing discriminatory ideologies, policies or practices and address them. This evaluation must be publicly available. 5. ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS including those at a senior level, to receive mandatory training to identify and address government ideology, policies and practices that fetter the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action. Time and time again your government has stated that it is willing to listen and respond to Canadians’ needs. It starts with providing ongoing fair and equitable funding, services, and supports to First Nations children and families in Canada. Committing to endorsing and implementing The Spirit Bear Plan is the way forward. Sincerely, Verification