Canada Jordan’s Principle funding sees drastic cuts in Ontario

Following rule changes implemented by the Canadian government in February 2025, funding for educational supports under Jordan’s Principle has seen a significant decline. Data filed at a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal hearing in January 2026 indicates that in Ontario, funding dropped from $122 million in 2024 to $1.2 million in 2025 over a six-month period.

As a result of these changes, the number of approved requests fell from 2,608 to 66. This reduction has left families, service providers, and communities struggling to fund essential services, including speech therapy, crisis teams, suicide-prevention programs, and educational assistants.

Jordan’s Principle was established to ensure First Nations children have equitable access to government services, following the death of Jordan River Anderson. The principle is designed to ensure services are provided first, with jurisdictional disputes over payment settled later.