Katie Maracle is facing a distressing reality as her husband, Murray Maracle, hails from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory near Belleville, Ont., and their eight-year-old son, Ethan Maracle, who is autistic, non-verbal, and has epilepsy, has been utilizing the Jordan’s Principle program for therapy and education since 2018-19.
Jordan’s Principle is designed to ensure prompt access to essential health and social services for First Nations youth without interruptions, with disputes over which government should cover the costs to be resolved later. However, Katie Maracle believes that jurisdictional disagreements are causing disruptions for families like hers.
The Maracle family was taken aback on May 9 when they learned that the federal government had set a deadline for their funding, which had expired, resulting in the loss of $60,000 they were relying on. This has plunged the family into crisis mode, with Katie Maracle, a teacher and employee at a local non-profit organization, expressing their struggles from their home in Orillia, Ontario.
Deprived of therapy funds, disconnected from services, and anxiously preparing to send their son to public school for the first time in September, the Maracles find themselves grappling with the upheaval caused by Indigenous Services Canada (ISC). The sudden halt in services has left them feeling that their son’s right to education has been abruptly taken away.
The family is just one of many affected by the significant changes introduced by Ottawa this year, amidst a backlog of 140,000 pending Jordan’s Principle requests. These changes have led to service reductions, with no guarantee of previously approved requests being reapproved by Canada.
Katie Maracle highlighted the distress and harm caused by the abrupt termination of services, especially for a child like Ethan, who struggles to communicate and understand the situation. The impact is evident in his behavior regression as he copes with the sudden changes.
Canada’s handling of Jordan’s Principle has drawn criticism from lawyer David Taylor, who accused the government of having a narrow approach that led to the denial of applications. Recent court rulings have sided with individuals like Joanne Powless and Patrick Cully, emphasizing that Canada must assess each child’s unique needs rather than applying blanket policies.
Looking ahead, Katie Maracle remains hopeful, drawing parallels between her situation and the successful cases like Cully’s. She also anticipates positive changes under a new cabinet minister at ISC. However, Ethan Maracle’s current funding request remains pending, leaving him without crucial services he has relied on for most of his life.
Amanda Baysarowich, who previously had 17 children funded by Jordan’s Principle, now finds herself without any support due to the sudden policy changes. The financial strain resulting from the unpaid funds is taking a toll on her organization, jeopardizing the care and services for vulnerable children like Ethan.
The uncertainties surrounding Jordan’s Principle and the impact on families and service providers underscore the urgent need for a more inclusive and responsive approach from the Canadian government to ensure the well-being of Indigenous children in need of support.