Thank you.
It's a real pleasure for me to be here today - with our partners in Saskatchewan - to take an important step towards developing an enhanced prevention-based approach to child welfare in First Nation communities.
I'm pleased to be joined by Vice-Chief Guy Lonechild, of the Saskatchewan Federation of Indian Nations, and the Honourable Donna Harpauer, Saskatchewan Minister of Social Services. This event is another example of what our Conservative Government has said over and over again – if we as willing partners work together, we can achieve real results for First Nation families in Canada.
The framework we're announcing today is going to help First Nations and governments to work together more effectively to build a brighter future for all children. The overall goal is clear and compelling: long-term stability for the child. We know that intervening early – before families reach a crisis – can result in a much better outcome for children.
Our government is committing an additional $104.8 million over five years to support this approach here in Saskatchewan. This funding will help agencies to provide a range of prevention services. And child welfare agencies will work to strengthen partnerships with other community services to meet the real needs of First Nations children and families.
This new approach is similar to the approach our Conservative Government has already taken in Alberta. The tripartite agreement we signed in Alberta last year provides First Nations agencies with new resources that identify a family's need before a child is removed from the family home.
The agreement we are signing here today will help to develop more ways of supporting children in the home and protecting their welfare, without having to place them into care. For example, that could mean greater use of respite care so that a struggling parent can get a break, and get their family back on track.
I'm confident that together we can make this child-centered approach a great success in Saskatchewan.
Saskatchewan is a growing, thriving province. This framework will help ensure that children can benefit from this progress, and contribute to this prosperity. Because we all know that stability in the early years can mean a lifetime of success.
So, thank you for working with our government – and with each other – to provide high-quality services. Thank you for providing a caring environment that reflects the values of First Nation families.
By improving services for children and their families, we're letting them know that we see their potential. We believe in their dreams. And we're counting on them to build a good life for themselves and for their communities.
Thank you.
