Death of Tribunal commissioner delays child welfare ruling – APTN

December 1, 2015

APTN National News
OTTAWA – Réjean Bélanger, one of three commissioners hearing a human rights case involving First Nations children, has died.

According to a statement issued by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, Bélanger died Sunday.

Bélanger, a lawyer and mediator, was first appointed as a commissioner to the Tribunal in 2008 and was in his second term.

A memorial service is scheduled to take place in Gatineau on Dec. 12.

Belanger, along with Commissioners Sophie Marchildon and Edward Lustig were working on a case launched by the Assembly of First Nations and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society.

Both claim Canada discriminates against First Nations children in care by under-funding the on-reserve agencies charged with their care.

Read More: http://aptn.ca/news/2015/12/01/death-of-tribunal-commissioner-delays-child-welfare-ruling/