Jordan’s Principle spending increasing in recent years [Video]

In the last five years, the number of approved Jordan’s Principle requests and the subsequent spending have nearly tripled.

The data on the legal ruling that requires governments to support essential services for First Nations children’s well-being was shared with CTV News Winnipeg by Indigenous Services Canada (ISC). It shows there has also been a sharp spending increase so far this fiscal year.

Since its inception in 2016, the ISC numbers show $6.44 billion was spent on Jordan’s Principle requests nationally.

Nationally, more than $1.6 billion has been spent on approved and committed Jordan’s Principle requests between April 1 and Sept. 30 this fiscal year. In the 2019-20 fiscal year, the total Jordan’s Principle spending in Canada was $540 million.

Nearly one-third of the current year’s spending has gone to applicants from Manitoba, an approved $515 million.

On Thursday, ISC said there are 478 full-time equivalent staff working with Jordan’s …