Nahanni Fontaine speaks in the house during question and answer period at the Legislative Building on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ruth Bonneville – POOL)
The Manitoba government is launching an independent external review of the provincial Child and Family Services (CFS) funding and governance model.
Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine made the announcement Tuesday, saying the funding and governance model must evolve to support Indigenous-led care and the exercise of Indigenous jurisdiction over child welfare.
“This review is about building a stronger system that helps keep children safe and supported while ensuring families, communities, and nations have the resources they need to care for their children,” said Fontaine.
The current funding model, known as single envelope funding, was introduced in 2019 under the previous government despite concerns raised by Indigenous leadership at the time, and has never undergone a comprehensive review, the minister said. Since 2023, the province has increased funding to the CFS system each year, adding more than $77 million in additional annualized funding across the system, according to the province.
Under the current structure, the province provides overall policy direction and funding, while four CFS authorities oversee and manage funding for their mandated agencies.
An external consulting firm, to be selected through a competitive procurement process, will lead the review, focusing on funding supports and pressures within the system, financial management and oversight practices, governance structures related to funding and accountability, and opportunities to support the return of Indigenous jurisdiction over child welfare.
The review is expected to begin later this year and take approximately a year to complete.
Watch Tuesday’s news conference:
