Indigenous Youth in Alberta
This case makes three types of claims.
First, it alleges that the governments of Canada and Alberta did not adequately fund Indigenous child services in Alberta. Thus, Indigenous children were denied prompt access to essential services.
Second, it alleges that the funding structure, policies, and culture of Child Services Offices in Alberta prioritized removing Indigenous children from their homes over providing preventive services to Indigenous families to assist them to care for their children at home.
Third, it alleges that, once Indigenous children were removed, they were treated less favourably than non-Indigenous children.
This case seeks to represent (1) all off-reserve Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) children in Alberta who were removed from their homes while under the age of 18, since 1992; (2) all off-reserve Indigenous children in Alberta who were denied prompt access to an essential service; and (3) the caregiving parents and grandparents of those children.
We are bringing this claim and parallel claims in other provinces with a consortium of firms across the country, including Cochrane Saxberg (Manitoba), Murphy Battista (BC), Miller Titerle (BC), Gowling (BC), and Kugler Kandestin (Quebec). The court will decide at a later date if the case will proceed as a class action.
- February 13, 2023: Statement of Claim issued
- Statement of Claim issued February 13, 2023
