The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapy (CAOT) and Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC) issued a joint, urgent call to the federal government on January 19, 2026. They demand immediate action to dismantle the barriers preventing First Nations and Inuit children from accessing essential health services, particularly in northern and remote communities. The call to action focuses on the chronic failures in implementing Jordan’s Principle and the Inuit Child First Initiative (ICFI).
Systemic Barriers Deny Legally Guaranteed Care
Representing thousands of frontline healthcare practitioners, CAOT and SAC detailed how bureaucratic delays and inconsistent funding are directly harming children. Despite the legal promise of these principles—designed to ensure timely access to health, social, and educational supports—families face unacceptable wait times, complex application processes, and frequent service denials.
Irving Gold, Chief Executive Officer of CAOT, emphasized the critical nature of these services. "Jordan’s Principle is not a nice-to-have," he stated. Occupational therapists help children with fundamental life activities like bathing, learning, and playing. When access is delayed, children are denied care they are legally entitled to, leaving families to struggle alone within a complex system.
Real Consequences for Children and Families
The associations report that the cascading impacts of these delays are severe and long-lasting. For children requiring speech-language pathology or audiology services, delays can critically impact their ability to communicate, learn, and thrive. Luciana Nechita, CEO of SAC, highlighted how administrative barriers are undermining culturally safe care and language revitalization efforts, perpetuating health inequities.
The press conference, held on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, underscored that these are not isolated incidents but a systemic failure. Practitioners witness daily how underfunded and inaccessible services create a cycle of disadvantage for Indigenous children, contradicting the government's stated commitments to reconciliation and equity.
A Call for Immediate and Sustained Federal Action
CAOT and SAC are calling for more than temporary fixes. They insist on sustained, systemic reform to ensure every First Nations and Inuit child receives the services they need, when and where they need them. This includes streamlining funding processes, ensuring consistent interpretation of Jordan’s Principle, and adequately resourcing services in remote communities.
The groups frame this not merely as a policy issue, but as a matter of upholding Treaty obligations and fiduciary duties. They argue that the federal government must take meaningful, immediate steps to remove these barriers, ensuring no child is left waiting for the essential care that supports a happy, healthy, and thriving life.
