What is Jordan’s Principle?

Jordan’s Principle is a principle that ensures that a substantive equality and that there are no gaps in publicly funded health, social and education programs, and supports for First Nations children. 

Jordan River Anderson was a young boy from Norway House Cree Nation, located 456km north of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Born with complex medical needs, Jordan spent the entirety of his life in a Winnipeg hospital while the federal and provincial governments fought financial responsibility for his necessary homecare. After two years of dispute, Jordan died in hospital at age 5, never having returned to his community or lived in his family home.

Named in his honour, Jordan’s Principle passed in the House of Commons in 2007, ensuring that there are no gaps in publicly funded health, social and education programs, and supports for First Nations children living on- and off-reserve. Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin’s Jordan’s Principle initiative is committed to upholding the right to access necessary healthcare services without delays occurring over jurisdictional disputes.

What are the objectives of Keewatinohk Inniniw Minoayawin’s Jordan’s Principle?

• Increase access to physician services in the First Nation communities, ensuring that the quality of care provided is equivalent to or better than the accepted standard of care as regulated and prescribed by the Province of Manitoba and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba

• Expand the delivery of primary care services
• Increase public participation in healthcare delivery