The Mushkegowuk Cree fight Workfare

When the provincial government dramatically cut back provincial social assistance, First Nations people across the province were especially hard-hit. The Mushkegowuk Council of First Nations on the James Bay coast asked us to challenge the province’s imposition of the changes on First Nations.

Using an innovative division of powers approach, the Mushkegowuk Council obtained a court order declaring that the province could not override First Nations’ right of self-government and impose workfare. The province appealed but the Court of Appeal upheld the result.