"We want to encourage dialogue, not litigation," says CHRC

OTTAWA, Sept. 20, 2016 /CNW/ - In the wake of the most recent Canadian Human Rights Tribunal order that the federal government implement the ruling in the First Nations Child Welfare Case, the Canadian Human Rights Commission is calling on all parties to come together and start talking about realistic solutions that will have a positive impact on the lives of Indigenous children and families.

The Commission led the litigation of this historic human rights case for nearly a decade. Now, several months since the Tribunal's ruling in January, the Commission is eager to see parties come together and resolve this outside of the courts.

"The Tribunal's order has wide-ranging consequences and requires time to analyze and implement," said Chief Commissioner Marie-Claude Landry. "The quickest way to help these children is to focus on concrete solutions that do not require further legal battles."

The Commission encourages all parties to meet as soon as possible to resolve this important issue. "We want to ensure the safety and well-being of every First Nations child— and to do this we need to avoid prolonging this litigation any further," said Landry.

The Commission has a unique public interest role, serving as a bridge between parties to resolve human rights issues before they end in costly legal proceedings. It will closely monitor this situation and will continue to encourage all parties to work together to ensure that the Tribunal ruling is implemented in a realistic and meaningful way.

Quotes

"The Tribunal's order has wide-ranging consequences and requires time to analyze and implement. The quickest way to help these children is to focus on concrete solutions that do not require further legal battles."

- Marie-Claude Landry, Ad. E., Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission

"We want to ensure the safety and well-being of every First Nations child — and to do this we need to avoid prolonging this litigation any further."

- Marie-Claude Landry, Ad. E., Chief Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission

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SOURCE Canadian Human Rights Commission

Media Contacts: Media Relations, 613-943-9118, www.chrc-ccdp.gc.ca