Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A month has passed since I asked a series of budgetary debate questions, including concerns over the cut of $27 million from child intervention services. 

In 2008-2009 less than 260 families of the approximately 13,000 Alberta children in custody received family enhancement services. Last year over 90 per cent of children taken into custody were not reunited with their birth families. To the minister: when will I receive written answers to the budget debate questions?

The Speaker: The hon. minister.

Mrs. Fritz: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have addressed that question in the Assembly, and I can tell you that I have not changed my approach with that. I will not be providing any further answers to Committee of Supply. I consider those answers to have been complete at the time, and that’s just the way it is.

The Speaker: The hon. member.

Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m glad that the minister admitted on the record that she will not fulfill her ministerial duties to provide answers to budgetary questions.

Why is so little focus and funding support committed to birth families compared to the financial costs and emotional trauma associated with custody? It’s grab first, support second.

The Speaker: The hon. minister.

Mrs. Fritz: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. That’s absolutely incorrect. This member knows that. I’ve addressed that in the Assembly as well. We had a Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act come into place in 2004, and this member knows that as well. That act is where the caseworker goes to a home along with the support worker, and those workers assess the home with the family. Many children that previously may have been taken into care immediately stay with the family while they provide support to the family. It’s a complete new way and approach of handling the child and family and youth care, and it’s a good way.

Mr. Chase: That gives very little comfort to the 13,000 children in custody and their families.

How can the minister justify cutting $27 million from child intervention services when there is $15 billion remaining in the sustainability fund? How is this cruelly unnecessary cut either in the best interests of Alberta’s children or their broken families?

Mrs. Fritz: You know, Mr. Speaker, honestly, the way that you dismiss the good work that’s being done out in the field is amazing. The child, family, and youth enhancement workers are working very hard along with the lead agencies. They have a lead agency model where they go together and where they assess families, they provide the services as they’re needed, and they assist children. Immediately they protect children and they care for children, and they’re very thoughtful in how they do this. I was on Friday at two case reviews with both the lead agency and the caseworkers, and there were approximately 20 people involved. You know, hon. member, that this is working.

Alberta Hansard, April 15, 2010

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