From Global News–As a result of three class-action lawsuits, the Manitoba government has agreed in principle to a $530-million settlement for breaching the Charter rights of vulnerable children in care.
The settlement, which is still subject to court approval, stems from the province’s action in connection with Children’s Special Allowances (CSA) from Child and Family Services (CFS) between 2005 and 2019.
The allowances, which are federally legislated to be used for children’s care and education, were instead paid to the province’s general revenue fund over that 14-year period — to the tune of $335 million.
Manitoba passed legislation in 2020 exempting the province from any legal responsibility, which prompted a legal challenge, and in 2022, the Court of King’s Bench found that Manitoba’s CSA policy exacerbated the already significant disadvantages experienced by children in care and breached their Charter rights.