Manitoba

Premiers say too many aboriginal kids in care, urge Ottawa to act

Canada's premiers are raising concerns about the high number of aboriginal children in care as they urge the federal government to help them address the issue.

Report calls for more social and economic supports to improve life for the most at-risk children

Perry Bellegarde, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Prince Edward Island Premier Wade MacLauchlan, Quebec Premier Phillipe Couillard and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley listen at a news confernce at a meeting of Canadian premiers and national aboriginal leaders in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador. (The Canadian Press)

Canada's premiers are raising concerns about the high number of aboriginal children in care as they urge the federal government to help them address the issue.

The premiers released a report by their Aboriginal Children in Care Working Group at the Council of the Federation meeting in St. John's, N.L.

It says indigenous kids are over-represented in child welfare systems across Canada.

It calls for more social and economic supports that might improve life for the most at-risk children.

They include poverty reduction strategies, food security measures, better housing and improved mental health and addiction programs.

The report says the premiers invited the federal government to be part of the study but it did not respond.