CHRT finds Government “retaliated” against children’s advocate

The Canadian Human Rights
Tribunal recently ruled that the federal government did retaliate against Cindy
Blackstock, president of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society and
ordered the Department of Aboriginal Affairs to pay Blackstock $20,000 for pain
and suffering. The CHRT singled out the behaviour of David McArthur, former
special assistant to then-minister Chuck Strahl. The dispute centres on a
December 2009 meeting at the ministerial headquarters in Gatineau, Que.
Blackstock said she was the only person barred from a gathering with the Chiefs
of Ontario. “There is no doubt that the respondent’s actions had a wilful and reckless
nature,” the ruling said. “Dr. Blackstock was the only individual excluded from
the meeting, which supports her contention that she was singled out.”
Blackstock plans to donate the money to children’s charities.