Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. More children in Alberta are taken into custody by this province per capita than anywhere else in Canada. 

When children in care are hurt or die, the privacy of the family is paramount, but the details of the incidents need to be released. The sharing of information and solutions is the only way to bring change. We need to know what happened and what is being done to fix it. To the minister: how is it in the best interests of a dead child or their family to keep the circumstances that led to their death a ministry secret? Exactly whose interests are being protected?

The Speaker: The hon. minister.

Mrs. Fritz: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will look at the preamble and see, hon. member, if your preamble was correct. I think it is incorrect, but I’ll look into that further. In answering this question, we are governed by laws and regulations, and they do regard privacy for children in various circumstances. For the one that this member is discussing, there is an ongoing police investigation. To respect the integrity of that investigation, we will not be releasing any further information at this time.

The Speaker: The hon. member.

Mr. Chase: Thank you. Will the minister provide details that led to the death of a 21-month-old child in care last Wednesday and the findings of the ministry’s internal investigation when it is completed?

We don’t need names. We don’t need addresses.

The Speaker: The hon. minister.

Mrs. Fritz: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated, I believe people have the right to know what has happened in cases involving children in this ministry and not just in this situation but in others as well. That information will be released that is appropriate in accordance with the regulation and the legislation that we have. There is an ongoing police investigation right now, and I will not compromise the integrity of that investigation.

Mr. Chase: I don’t want the investigation compromised, but when it’s through, we need the details.

I will ask again. Will the minister take the first step to end the systemic secrecy and require that the children’s advocate report directly to the Legislature, as is the case in all other provinces?

The Speaker: The hon. minister.

Mrs. Fritz: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. The children’s advocate and the reporting that the children’s advocate does in the ministry is not related to systemic secrecy. It’s related to what is right, and it’s related to the information. There are four quarterly reports that come to the Legislature through the children’s advocate as well as an annual report, and the member is aware of that.

Alberta Hansard, March 10, 2010

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