Protection of Children in Care (March 8)
Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Children and Youth Services is a ministry in crisis, a broken system that puts children’s lives at risk.
It is a system where qualifications aren’t valued, where monitoring is not a priority, and where screening of foster and kinship homes is insufficient. There is something systemic and fundamentally wrong with this ministry which will not be resolved by simply changing ministers. To the Premier. The current system is costing children their lives. What specific actions is the Premier taking now to fix the system to ensure that we don’t see another life lost?
Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, it’s always a tragedy when a child dies no matter what the circumstances. Certainly, you know, as a father and a grandfather – and many of us are parents and grandparents – this is a serious situation, and our hearts go out to the families involved. The minister has ordered an investigation, and she may have further detail in this particular case.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again to the Premier: when will this government introduce legislation to ensure that all individuals who care for our most vulnerable population are properly qualified?
Mr. Stelmach: Mr. Speaker, foster parents do exceptional work in this province. There are many, many untold stories of children’s lives that have been turned around through the exceptional care of foster parents. As I said before, the minister is undertaking an investigation in this particular matter. Once the results are provided to the minister, she will take action.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Mr. Chase: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Front-line workers are facing enormous caseloads. They cannot provide the help because the government has not helped them. Will the Premier require that the children’s advocate report directly to the Legislature as a first step to improving transparency and accountability within the ministry?
This is the case in all other provinces.
Mr. Stelmach: As I said, Mr. Speaker, this matter is under investigation. The minister will review the results of that investigation and make the appropriate decisions.
Alberta Hansard, March 8, 2010