The federal government is pledging $1.55 billion in new funding to ensure First Nations children have equal access to public services over the next year, CBC News has learned. 

Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty will make the announcement at a press conference in the House of Commons Thursday afternoon.

In a statement, she said the commitment will reduce uncertainty for First Nations after concerns were raised about the long-term funding of the legal initiative. 

“Jordan’s Principle must work for those who depend on it,” Gull-Masty said in a statement.

“We will continue working with First Nations leadership and families to ensure Jordan’s Principle remains predictable, practical, and grounded in fairness and respect.”

Jordan’s Principle is named after Jordan River Anderson, a boy from the Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba. He died in 2005 at the age of five in the midst of a two-year battle between Manitoba and Ottawa over who would pay for his home care costs associated with his complex genetic disorder.

In 2007, the House of Commons unanimously passed a motion to adopt a child-first principle named after Anderson to ensure First Nations children get necessary services without delays caused by jurisdiction disputes between governments.

Jordan’s Principle allows families to submit requests for medical, mental health, educational and physiotherapy needs.

While it provides life-saving support, it’s struggling to keep up with a surge in demand and pay service providers on time. 

Indigenous Services Canada, which runs the initiative, reported a backlog of 140,000 applications for Jordan’s Principle in late 2024 with 25,000 labelled urgent. 

More than 10 million products, services and supports were approved under Jordan’s Principle between July 2016 and Sept. 30, 2025, the federal department said. 

The new funding is meant to respond to that sustained demand over the past decade, while work continues to reform Jordan’s Principle with First Nations leaders and families.