A federal judge has approved a record-breaking $23 billion settlement agreement for First Nations children and families.

The settlement originated from a 2019 Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruling. This ruling mandated a steep human rights penalty, pricing at $40,000 per affected First Nation child and family.

Record breaking First Nations settlement

Trudeau chose to negotiate, and ended up losing a record setting settlement. This is the second time the Trudeau government has made headlines for obscene settlement numbers. The first time was when he handed convicted terrorist Omar Khadr $10 million to avoid going to court. 

What is raising eyebrows is the financial burden placed on all Canadians. The monumental settlement will cost every Canadian citizen roughly $622. That’s right, whether you agree with the settlement or not, you’re footing the bill.

$23,000,000,000

Added to the $23 billion settlement is another $20 billion. This extra sum is allocated for long-term changes in the on-reserve child welfare and family services system.

The question here isn’t just about righting historical wrongs. It’s about the massive financial burden placed on Canadians to cover what some argue are essentially reparations.

The settlement may be historic, but it leaves many pondering the cost of such a decision. 

Especially when that cost is shared by every Canadian to the tune of $622. Are Canadians prepared to carry this load, and is this the path to true reconciliation? Only time will tell.