The Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development says he’s optimistic that more foster families can be found to reduce the number of Indigenous children in care outside their communities.

John Abbott says while there are still Indigenous children from Labrador in care on the island, numbers are changing.

He says there are more children staying with their families in their communities, maintaining that important cultural connection.

“Sometimes it’s essential” that children are removed he says, but they “only do that in consultation with Indigenous leadership in those communities.”