Jordan's Principle - What Ontario Physiotherapists Need to Know

June 17, 2025

If you work with First Nations children, you may have experienced the frustration of months spent waiting for contract renewals, compensation delays, and approval processes that seem to change without notice; administrative backlogs preventing First Nations children from accessing the physiotherapy services they need. 

This goes against everything Jordan’s Principle was designed to address, and OPA has developed a position statement advocating for reform to the processes that create systemic barriers. 

Who Was Jordan? 

Jordan River Anderson “was a member of the Norway House Cree Nation. Born in Manitoba on October 22, 1999, he lived with a rare genetic disorder that required intensive medical care” (Canada’s Residential Schools: The Legacy, 2015). 

At age two, he was medically cleared to go home with support services. But the federal and provincial governments couldn’t agree on who should pay for his care. Jordan waited in the hospital for three more years, dying at age five without ever spending a day at home, not because he was too sick to leave, but because of a funding dispute. 

What Jordan’s Principle Means 

Jordan’s story led to the creation of Jordan’s Principle in 2007, a human rights principle “that guarantees timely access for status and non-status First Nations children to all public services without delay due to jurisdictional disputes, and comparable services to those provided to non-First Nations children.” (Canada’s Residential Schools: The Legacy, 2015)
 

The Current Reality 

Despite this principle, OPA continues to hear from rehabilitation providers who struggle with: 

• Contract renewals dragging on for months 

• Administrative backlogs preventing timely access to care 

• Compensation delays 

• Lack of clear communication about how issues will be resolved 

These challenges directly impact the First Nations children and families who depend on physiotherapy services. 

What OPA Is Doing 

Recognizing these challenges, OPA has developed a position statement advocating for improved Jordan’s Principle processes. 

With Indigenous Services Canada committed to reforming the administration, OPA is pushing for: 

• Reduced systemic barriers that prevent access to physiotherapy services 

• Culturally safe service delivery with collaborative community co-design 

• Continuity of care through longer-term contracts with trusted partners 

• Increased administrative capacity with transparency to address backlogs 

• Recognition of physiotherapy as essential preventive and early intervention care 

Why This Matters 

Jordan’s Principle addresses barriers and biases that create gaps in service access for Indigenous children. When administrative obstacles prevent First Nations children from getting needed physiotherapy, we perpetuate health disparities rooted in historical policies and systemic biases. 

As physiotherapists, your expertise helps children overcome physical challenges and participate fully in their communities. Prompt access to physiotherapy prevents complications, reduces pain and dysfunction, and enables children to return to school, play, and home activities with improved function. 

Moving Forward 

Work to improve the implementation of Jordan’s Principle continues. First Nations children require timely access to the same quality of care available to other Canadian children. As physiotherapists, you play a crucial role in supporting improved access to care. 

OPA continues to support and advocate for physiotherapists working in this area, ensuring that systemic improvements benefit both practitioners and patients. Learn more about Jordan’s Principle 

Reference

Canada’s Residential Schools: The Legacy. (2015). The Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, Volume 5. McGill-Queen’s University Press. https://core.ac.uk/download/480182666.pdf