Editor,
Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, B.C.’s Representative for Children and Youth, has served a central role in advocating for some of the most vulnerable children and youth in our province. In her first five-year term as Representative, she has drawn a critical lens to child protection issues involving poverty, abuse, neglect and domestic violence.
Ms. Turpel-Lafond was appointed in 2006 following the Ted Hughes report, a damning review of the Liberal government’s beleaguered child-protection system. Mr. Hughes showed how drastic budget cuts and the elimination of the Children’s Commissioner by the Liberals led to a severe lack of oversight of the child welfare system.
Mr. Hughes' report followed a Private Members Bill brought forward by then critic of children and family development, Adrian Dix. The bill was a call for the immediate reinstatement of an independent children’s officer after the Liberals axed the position in 2001.
Since her appointment in 2006, Ms.Turpel-Lafond has issued 20 major reports on specific programs, systemic issues and critical injuries and death. Each report has improved the effectiveness and responsiveness of the child-serving system.
In the past four years, more than 900 critical injuries and deaths of B.C. children and youth in government care or receiving support have been reviewed by the Representative’s office. More than 6400 individual advocacy files have also been opened, each receiving individual attention from advocacy staff working out of offices in Prince George, Burnaby, and Victoria.
Last week, the Representative released her regular report on child injuries and death reviews. The report, which includes a broader definition of critical injuries brought in under Turpel-Lafond, shows that cases involving sexual assaults and incidents of abuse or neglect in foster homes had been seriously under-reported in the past. Ms.Turpel-Lafond said the new definition meant a tripling in the number of critical injuries reported to her office since March.
On Thursday, July 21st an all-party committee of MLAs will have its first meeting to determine whether Ms.Turpel-Lafond will be reappointed for a second term. The Liberals’ claim of a families first agenda will be put to the test.
There is no question Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond should be reappointed for a second term. Children and families in British Columbia have been well served having her as their representative. An office independent of government is essential in providing oversight, investigating systemic problems, monitoring activities, and providing a voice for all children and youth across the province.
Claire Trevena, New Democrat critic for children and families