Cash crunch blamed as more than 60 workers laid off from Manitoba Métis, Michif CFS agencies

The Manitoba Métis Federation says budget constraints have led to dozens of layoffs across its child and family services agencies, but the union representing workers and Manitoba's families minister both say the issue is also tied to labour bargaining.

About 60 staff at the Métis Child and Family Services Authority — which includes both the Métis and Michif Child and Family Services — were laid off this week, according to David Chartrand, the president of the Manitoba Métis Federation.

A total of 100 to 150 staff are at risk of being let go eventually, he said. Most work at four shelters operated by the agencies, which were created as a way to prevent Métis children and youth in care from being placed in hotels and to help young adults aging out of care, said Chartrand.

He said his organization was counting on the federal government to pay for the shelter programs through an agreement under Bill C-92 — a federal bill which affirms Indigenous nations have sole authority over their children — but the government hasn't signed it yet.

Ottawa said it would fund the shelter program if Manitoba stepped up with half of the funding, according to Chartrand, which he said is a new requirement of the federal government that wasn't included in Bill C-92.

"We definitely are seeing a jurisdictional fight here," he told CBC News on Thursday.

Indigenous Services Canada said in a statement Friday the roles and responsibilities of each government in this case "need to be further clarified."

While child and family services for Indigenous communities are a shared responsibility between the feds and provinces, the funding for Métis agencies has historically come entirely from the provinces, the department said. 

The shelters will close in the next four months, with children and youth being sent to different placements, a Thursday staff memo by Métis CFS executive director Scott Maksymyk said.

"Unfortunately, we have reached a point where these reductions are necessary to ensure we can continue providing critical services to the families and communities who rely on us," he wrote.

However, the union that represents over 300 workers between the two agencies believes the layoffs are tied to the Métis authority's bargaining process with its workers.

The Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union called the layoffs "reckless," saying they threaten the safety of at-risk children and youth.

In a Thursday news release, the union also accused the MMF of trying to intimidate front-line workers to accept wages lower than those of other CFS workers.

Workers with both the Métis and Michif CFS agencies had been without contracts since Jan. 31, 2023, and rejected an offer of a collective bargaining agreement in December.

'Get back to the table'

Manitoba Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine also tied the layoffs to bargaining.

"I think it's really important to understand that this is discussion, or bargaining, between the authority and the workers," she told reporters on Thursday.

The province provides upwards of $57 million in funding to the Métis Child and Family Services Authority each year, said Fontaine, but she also accused the federal government of dragging its feet lately when it comes to its funding commitments.

"Canada has to get back to the table in respect of funding jurisdiction and funding child welfare in a good way," she said.

"Other folks need to get to the table to ensure that the workers are being heard."

An emergency agreement will be put in place by the Métis authority to protect the children and youth affected by the layoffs, Fontaine said.