Liberals table ‘historic’ Indigenous child welfare bill

OTTAWA — The Trudeau government has tabled its promised child welfare legislation aimed at stopping the over-representation of Indigenous children in foster care.

The bill emphasizes the need for the child welfare system to promote more preventative care and support for families instead of apprehending Indigenous children from their mothers.

Indigenous Services Minister Seamus O’Regan calls the legislation “historic” and says the main goal is to provide more opportunities for First Nations, Inuit and Metis to exercise jurisdiction over child and family services in their communities.