policy & legislation

This section contains information on Canadian child welfare legislation and policy. In Canada, child welfare services are provincially and territorially funded and legislated, with the exception of federally funded services to First Nations peoples living on reserves. In accordance with individual agreements negotiated between First Nations communities, provincial/territorial governments, and the federal government, an increasing number of First Nations are delivering child and family services in accordance with provincial and territorial child welfare laws.

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Title Authors Year
Supreme Court of Canada’s Reference re An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families: What Indigenous Peoples and Governments Need to Know

Bissett, T.

2025
Dickson v. Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation: What First Nations Should Know

Desrochers, F.

2025
Don’t Look Away: Issues Spotlight Too Many Left Behind: Ensuring Children and Youth with Disabilities Thrive 2025
Legislation, Regulation and Soft Law

Bissett, T.

2025
Socio-judicial trajectories of children receiving post-investigati in Québec (TRAon services under the Youth Protection ActJUD): Final report to the Quebec ministry of Health and social services and to the Quebec ministry of justice

Hélie, S., Chateauneuf, D., Lavallée, C., Robitaille, C., Rivest-Beauregard, A. 

2025
Corporal Punishment: Fact Sheet

Zunino, A., Sansone, G., Fallon, B., & Vandermorris, A.

2024
Legal Representation for Children, The Child Welfare Toolkit, Brief #5

Milne, C., Fallon, B., Wu, A., Ariganello, A., Tempesta, C.

2024
Parental Access – Short-Term Society Care, The Child Welfare Toolkit, Brief #3

Milne, C., Fallon, B., Wu, A., Ariganello, A., McCarty, E. & Gillanders, A.

2024
Supports and Systems to Respond to Complex Needs Among Children and Youth in Ontario

Sansone, G., Williams, C.C., Crowe, A., Kartusch, M., Vandermorris, A., Fallon, B., D’Angiulli, A. & Maxie, J. 

2024
Understanding the Effects of Corporal Punishment on Children, Families and Communities and Implications for Legal Reform in Canada

Sansone, G., Fallon, B., Vandermorris, A., Zunino, A. & Milne, C.

2024