Legislation
Legislation
Understanding Métis CFS Governance
The Métis Child and Family Services Authority is proud to be an affiliate of the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF), our Manitoba Métis Government. While the Province of Manitoba mandates our Authority to oversee agencies that provide child welfare services in the province, our governing body is the Manitoba Métis Federation.
The President of the MMF appoints a Minister and Associate Minister of Métis Child and Family Services. They form part of the Manitoba Métis Government who work with other governments such as our provincial and federal government on matters of importance to our Métis citizens.
The Authority Board meets three to four times a year to be briefed upon and provide direction on matters of importance in child welfare and our Métis CFS System.
Our agencies are also governed by Boards of Directors appointed by MMF through our Métis Minister of Child and Family Services. The Authority Board and Agency Boards of Directors meet jointly a few times each year.
Each year, most often in September, our Authority and agencies each hold a public Annual General Meeting (AGM) to release our annual reports and audited financial statements. Under our governing system, at our agencies’ AGMs, our Authority Board votes to decide whether or not they will accept any resolutions or motions made by the agencies as well as the annual report and financial statements. The Manitoba Métis Federation Board of Directors performs these same functions at the Authority’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Our Authority Body
The Métis CFS Authority is a non-profit organization responsible for the administration and provision of child and family services by the agencies under its jurisdiction. We are also responsible to monitor and support our agencies in their compliance to Provincial service standards.
Our work is guided by asking ourselves “Is it good for the children?” The Authority is a proud affiliate of the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF), which is our governing body. The MMF appoints a Board of Directors who are responsible for overseeing the management of fiscal resources and approving the development of policies.
The services currently mandated by the Authority include the Métis Child, Family and Community Services Agency and the Michif Child and Family Services Agency, which includes the Parkland Region Designated Intake Agency (DIA). The Authority also hosts the Office of the CFS Standing Committee and, with the three other Authorities, jointly manages the Child and Family All Nations Coordinated Response Network (ANCR) in providing intake services for Winnipeg.
The Métis CFS Authority, whose principal office is located at the MMF Winnipeg home office, provides services in accordance with the Child and Family Services Authorities Act, The Child and Family Services Act and the Adoptions Act. The Métis Authority is responsible for:
- Administering and providing for the delivery of child and family services to all people requesting services whether they are Métis or Inuit or not;
- Monitoring the quality of services delivered by our mandated agencies and ensuring that these services follow practices and procedures in accordance with legislation and provincial standards;
- Reviewing concerns brought forward from the community and agency service recipients. The Métis CFS Authority investigates these matters and advises the Métis CFS Minister as well as Manitoba’s Department of Families.
Minister Mona Buors: The Minister, in consultation with MMF’s seven regional offices and our Métis Government, appoints our Board of Directors, so that there is representation from all the regions of Manitoba. They also appoint Elder Advisors to the Board.
Federal Legislation
The following federal legislation is applicable to the delivery of Indigenous child and family services across Canada:
Bill C-92
An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families
Authorized Indigenous Governing Bodies (IGBS)
(which require notice of significant measure regarding an Indigenous child under the new federal legislation above)
Provincial Legislation
The following provincial legislation is applicable to the delivery of child and family services (including adoption services) in Manitoba: