The action will take effect over the next two weeks “after the anticipated federal funds from Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) were not received.”
Facing a decision to end the contracts of around 80 educational assistants who have been funded through Indigenous Services Canada, Saskatoon Public Schools officials say they remain “steadfast” in their commitment to advocate for new funding.
The school division this week said contracts for the EAs will be ended, citing “a significant shortfall” in Jordan’s Principle funding.
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The action will take effect over the next two weeks “after the anticipated federal funds from Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) were not received,” the division said in a statement.
The decision “was not made lightly,” deputy director of education Charlene Scrimshaw said in a statement.
Jordan’s Principle is a legal obligation in Canada to ensure First Nations children receive necessary government services without delay, regardless of jurisdictional disputes.
It is named after Jordan River Anderson, a Cree child from Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba, who was born in 1999 with multiple disabilities. The federal and provincial governments could not agree on which would pay for his home-based care, so Jordan stayed in hospital until he died at the age of five.
In 2007, the House of Commons passed Jordan’s Principle as a commitment that First Nations children would get the services, products and supports they need, with payments to be worked out at a later date.
The school division said that based on previous funding patterns, it proactively hired additional educational assistants. However, the absence of the expected money has made it untenable.
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“Without continued federal funding, it is no longer sustainable to maintain these positions, and the school division lacks the resources to cover the gap,” school board chair Kim Stranden and director of education Shane Skjerven said in a letter sent to students’ caregivers.
“This decision was not made lightly as this support has been essential for student success.”
Jennifer Kozelj, press secretary for the federal minister of Indigenous Services Canada, said in a statement that Jordan’s Principle “is meant to fill gaps that First Nations children may experience in government services that are available to all children.”
Kozelj said provincial governments are responsible for “ensuring equal access to educational services for all students in their publicly funded school boards. Jordan’s Principle is supposed to be used when necessary; it shouldn’t negate provincial or territorial responsibility. It’s not within the spirit of why Jordan’s Principle was created in the first place.”
She said Jordan’s Principle has grown “at an extremely fast pace” in recent years, from 614,350 approved requests in 2021-22 to nearly three million approved requests in 2023-24.
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According to the school division, it managed millions of dollars through Jordan’s Principle for tutoring, psycho-educational assessments and hiring educational assistants to support First Nations students from 2019 to 2024.
The ISC website says more than 8.7 million products, services and supports were approved nationally under Jordan’s Principle between July 2016 and December 2024.
The school division said families in Saskatoon directly affected by the removal of the EAs are set to be contacted by their respective schools before Feb. 14.
“The support provided by these educational assistants has been crucial for student success. We understand the significant impact this will have on our students, families and staff,” Scrimshaw said.
“We recognize the significant impact this decision has on students, families and staff. Through these challenges Saskatoon Public Schools’ teachers, administrators and support staff will continue to work with dedication, passion and in collaboration with families to meet the needs of all Saskatoon Public Schools’ students.”
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