Ottawa says it will continue to fund Jordan’s Principle to support First Nations children through 2026, as some First Nations chiefs decry what they call cutbacks in services.

Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu announced the extension in a press release Saturday, about 24 hours before a federal election campaign is expected to kick off.

The principle is intended to assure that First Nations children can access government-funded health, social or educational services regardless of where they live and without seeing their cases bogged down in jurisdictional disputes.