January 19, 2026 – OTTAWA, ON – The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapy (CAOT) and Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC) are calling on the federal government to take immediate and sustained action to address barriers that prevent First Nations and Inuit children and families from accessing essential health services under Jordan’s Principle and the Inuit Child First Initiative (ICFI), particularly in northern and remote Indigenous communities.

Together, CAOT and SAC represent thousands of healthcare practitioners across Canada who witness firsthand the cascading impacts of underfunded and inaccessible services. Despite the promise of Jordan’s Principle and ICFI, which were designed to ensure First Nations and Inuit children, respectively, receive timely access to the health, social, and educational supports they need, many continue to experience unacceptable delays or denials of service. CAOT and SAC members report long wait times, complex funding processes, and inconsistent interpretations of Jordan’s Principle that create barriers to timely care, while clients suffer.

“Occupational therapy is not a luxury; it’s a lifeline. Right now, the system is failing too many children, seniors, and families. Occupational therapists working in and with Indigenous communities see every day how administrative red tape and service delays leave people in pain with nowhere to turn. Without timely care, that pain becomes despair. We are calling on the federal government to uphold the full intent of Jordan’s Principle and the Inuit Child First Initiative by streamlining approval and reimbursement processes, ensuring consistent application across regions, and investing in Indigenous-led and community-based occupational therapy services.”
-Irving Gold, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapy

“Speech-language pathology and audiology services are essential health services under Jordan’s Principle and critical to children’s ability to communicate, learn, and thrive. Ongoing administrative barriers are delaying access to care, with real consequences for First Nations children and families. Our members play a vital role in supporting communication health, language revitalization, and culturally safe care, yet access remains inequitable. The federal government must address these barriers so every child can receive the services they need when they need them.”
-Luciana Nechita, Chief Executive Officer of Speech-Language & Audiology Canada

Occupational therapy plays a critical role in pain management, recovery, and rehabilitation, supporting children, youth, and families by addressing functional challenges related to injury, disability, mental health, chronic pain, and daily participation at home, in school, and in the community. Speech-language pathologists and audiologists play a vital role in supporting communication development, hearing health, learning, and language acquisition, including language revitalization efforts in Indigenous communities.

When these services are unavailable, people are left without the tools, strategies, or supports to manage chronic pain, trauma, or functional limitations safely. In this void, too many individuals turn to unregulated or unsafe means of coping, fueling cycles of addiction, worsening mental health, and deepening social and economic hardship.

About the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapy (CAOT)

The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapy (CAOT) is the national organization representing near 20,000 occupational therapists across Canada. CAOT supports evidence-informed, person-centred, and equitable access to occupational therapy services that support people to participate fully in the activities of everyday life.

About Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC)

Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC) is the national organization representing speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and communication health assistants across Canada. SAC advances evidence-informed, culturally safe, and equitable access to speech, language, hearing, and swallowing services that support communication, learning, and participation across the lifespan.

Media Contact

Kristin Harold
Director of Communications & Marketing
Canadian Association of Occupational Therapy
613-809-2202
kharold@caot.ca
caot.ca

Ayah Stretch
Advocacy and Community Relations Officer
Speech-Language & Audiology Canada
613-909-1265
advocacy@sac-oac.ca