Bill C-563 (Historical)

First Nations Children's Health Protection Act

An Act to ensure that appropriate health care services are provided to First Nations children in a timely manner

This bill was last introduced in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session, which ended in September 2008.

Sponsor

Tina Keeper  Liberal

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Outside the Order of Precedence (a private member's bill that hasn't yet won the draw that determines which private member's bills can be debated), as of June 13, 2008
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament often publishes better independent summaries.

This enactment implements Jordan’s principle to provide that, if the Government of Canada has an obligation to pay for health care services that have been provided to a First Nations child whose ordinary residence is on a reserve, the first department of that government that is requested to pay for those expenses shall do so in a timely manner.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

First Nations Children's Health Protection ActRoutine Proceedings

June 13th, 2008 / 12:05 p.m.
See context

Liberal

Tina Keeper Liberal Churchill, MB

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-563, An Act to ensure that appropriate health care services are provided to First Nations children in a timely manner.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce this piece of legislation, an act to ensure that appropriate health care services are provided to first nations children in a timely manner. This bill was inspired by the very short life of a boy named Jordan Anderson from the Norway House Cree Nation in my riding of Churchill and the courageous battle waged by his family and the community.

Jordan's principle is to ensure a child's health is prioritized and appropriate services are provided. This enactment implements Jordan's principle to provide that if the Government of Canada has an obligation to pay for health care services for a first nations child whose ordinary residence is on a reserve, the first department of that government requested to pay shall do so in a timely manner. With this legislation, the aim is that Canada will provide first nations children the same health care services in a comparable timeframe as all other Canadian children receive.

I encourage all members of the House to work together to ensure no child in our country is left behind when it comes to health care.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)