Ottawa has until today to confirm equal child welfare treatment for First Nations

• NEW: Federal government confirms it will adhere to Jordan's Principle

The federal government has until the end of the day to confirm whether itwill fully implement Jordan's Principle to ensure equal healthcare for Indigenous children.

On April 26, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal gave theDepartment of Indigenous Affairs two weeks to confirm it wouldimplement the policy.

The deadline comes as thetribunal ruled in January that the Canadian government knowingly discriminated against tens of thousands of children on reserves by underfunding child welfare services.

• Canada officially adopts UN declaration on rights of Indigenous peoples
• Tribunal orders federal government to ensure services for Aboriginal kids
• Canada discriminates against children on reserves, tribunal rules

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister CarolynBennett is at the United Nations, where she officially announced that Canada will adopt the UNdeclarationon the rights of Indigenous peoplesTuesday afternoon.

Her office would only say in an email to CBC News that "The Tribunal has asked ... Canada to provide a response and we are providing one."

But CindyBlackstock, executive director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society,told CBC News through her lawyer that she expects Ottawa to comply with the deadline.

"She is expecting confirmation that Jordan's Principle is implemented across all federal government services and the federal government, so First Nations children can access public services on the same terms as other kids," said Sbastien Grammond in an email to CBC News. Grammondalso works asaprofessor of law at theUniversity of Ottawa.

After the Liberal government tabled its first budget in March, Blackstock said she was deeply disappointed to see just $71 million earmarkedfor child welfare in the first year a fraction of what she said was needed to restore fairness.

Attawapiskat 'ground zero'

Charlie Angus, NDP critic for Indigenous and Northern Affairs, also urged thefederal government to fully implement Jordan's Principle.

Angus, who represents the Ontario riding that includes the northern community of Attawapiskat spoke out about the mental health crisis affecting the First Nations community.

"Attawapiskat is one of the many communities that is ground zero for the need of Jordan's Principle, whether it's in mental health services for children or child welfare aid," Angus said in Ottawa prior to question period Tuesday.

Angus, who just returned from Attawapiskat, said while he had beeninvited to take part in the Canadiandelegation to the UN, grave conditions in the First Nations reserve prompted him to cancel his trip.

Members of Parliament unanimously adopted Jordan's Principlein the House of Commons in 2007.

Jordan's Principle is named after Jordan River Anderson, a five-year-old boy with complex needs who died in hospital in 2005 after a drawn-out courtbattle between the federal government and Manitoba over his home care costs.

Blackstock, along with the Assembly of First Nations, launched the lawsuitagainst the federal governmentin February 2007.