NDP: We cannot keep failing these children

HAMILTON – Ontario NDP critic for Children, Community and Social Services Monique Taylor (Hamilton Mountain) is calling out the government for trying to distract from the mess they have created in Children’s Aid Societies across the province following reports of vulnerable children placed in unsafe situations.

“We need investments, not distractions,” said Taylor. “Ford’s ‘review’ does nothing about decades of government underfunding, it does nothing about the crisis brewing in the system, it is simply an abdication of responsibility from a government that is choosing to look away from the crisis. They have been reviewing for five years, but what do they have to show for it? Is this the best we can do after having hundreds of children lose their lives in our broken system? What does this review do for children like Neveah and Katelynn? This is gut-wrenching.

“We need sustainable solutions that meet the needs of vulnerable children and families across the province. Children’s Aid Societies need proactive front-loaded funding to continue to protect our most valuable investment – our children.

“Children and youth in our care system cannot wait while till a report comes out in 2025, they need help now. They need the system to work for them now. We cannot keep failing these children. We cannot look away in Ontario another day.”

BACKGROUND:

• This crisis continues to grow with increasing numbers of children and youth with complex healthcare needs, unlicensed housing settings including hotel rooms and AirBnBs and a growing number of parents being forced to relinquish care of their own children.
• Parents have shared they are making this difficult choice because they can no longer manage their complex needs (two or more mental health, developmental or behavioural conditions, such as autism and depression) and have access to timely and adequate help in their communities.
• In March 2022, a roundtable of experts, child welfare leaders and parents were asked to find improvements. The report submitted included 32 recommendations to help pull families out of crisis.