“I want to remind everyone who is impacted by this agreement to do what is best for them and their families but to be mindful of the settlement deadlines.” – Grand Chief Jerry Daniels
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 19th, 2024
ANISHINAABE AND DAKOTA TERRITORY, MB —Today the Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) is reminding any of our citizens who may benefit from a recent court ruling on the Children’s Special Allowance (CSA) Agreement, that some important deadlines are approaching.
In March 2024, the Province of Manitoba was ordered to pay $530 million to plaintiffs after three class-action lawsuits were filed by child and family services (CFS) agencies. These lawsuits were filed after a judge ruled that the province’s decision to order CFS agencies to give money from the federal CSA to the provincial government was unconstitutional and discriminatory.
“This ruling was a positive step forward and I want to ensure it benefits those who were impacted by this systemic failure,” said SCO Grand Chief Jerry Daniels. “This settlement corrects an illegal and discriminatory practice, and we need to make sure that the misdirected funds are returned to our citizens who need them.”
The settlement will compensate every child affected by the province’s actions, including interest and additional money for other damages and legal costs, through the creation of a resolution fund.
A class action Notice Plan has been developed. Notices will be distributed to CFS agencies, community organizations, correctional facilities, and First Nations offices. Compensation for each child in care will be calculated based on the number of months in care, resulting in varied amounts for each claimant.
SCO advises all those impacted that if they wish to opt-out or object to the settlement in its current form, they must do so by August 23, 2024.
On September 5 and 6, 2024, the Court of King’s Bench of Manitoba will also hear from those who object to the final claim and consider whether the settlement of the Class Actions is fair, reasonable, and in the best interests of the Class Members.
“This is another important milestone as we continue to work diligently on meaningful reconciliation with all our Treaty partners,” added Grand Chief Daniels. “I encourage everyone involved to take a hard look at the details of these notices, and to do what’s best for them and their loved ones.”
If a person needs help navigating this information about the settlement, they can call the Children’s Special Allowance Support Line at 204-947-7101 or toll free 1-844-947-7101 between the hours of 9 am to 5 pm Central Time from Monday to Friday. The fastest way to reach a representative is to press “0.”
More details on the CSA can be found at: www.csasettlement.com
-30-
The Southern Chiefs’ Organization represents 34 First Nations and more than 87,000 citizens in what is now called southern Manitoba. SCO is an independent political organization that protects, preserves, promotes, and enhances First Nations peoples’ inherent rights, languages, customs, and traditions through the application and implementation of the spirit and intent of the Treaty-making process.
For media inquiries:
Email: Media@scoinc.mb.ca