TIMES COLONIST STORY ABOUT THE METIS TODDLER

A FOLLOWUP opinion by Ray Ferris, my advocacy colleague, an experienced former Ministry of Children social worker and author of 'The Art of Child Protection."  Contact the author to order a copy of his book, rtferris@telus.net.

The Times Colonist story of the foster parents trying to adopt a child is a classic example of conflict between the different rights of children. Children’s rights are set out in the Child Family and Community Services Act (CFCSA). Children’s best interests are paramount and include the right to continuity of care and the right to kinship contact. Priority should be given to foster placement with relatives. The Act urges timely decision making for young children. Cultural preservation is urged, especially for people of aboriginal origin.

No individual right is paramount, but some rights become more important as time passes and conflicts can occur. It is then that a balance between rights must be sought, requiring good judgement. Unfortunately, good judgement seems to be a scarce commodity in this ministry.

A CHILD'S RIGHTS, GOOD JUDGEMENT & POOR TIMING

An opinion by Ray Ferris, my advocacy colleague, an experienced former Ministry of Children social worker and author of 'The Art of Child Protection."  Contact the author to order a copy of his book, rtferris@telus.net.

CTV Image / the 2 yr old Metis girl known only as  S.S.

The story of the foster parents trying to adopt a child is a classic example of conflict between the different rights of children. Children’s rights are set out in the CFCSA. Children’s best interests are paramount and include the right to continuity of care. The right to kinship contact, kinship placement timely decision making and cultural preservation.

         No individual right is paramount, but some rights become more important as time passes and conflicts can occur. It is then that a balance between rights must be sought requiring good judgement. Unfortunately, good judgement seems to be a scarce commodity in this ministry. They will often treat one right as paramount inappropriately. They use right to privacy to shroud everything in secrecy, sometimes withholding information from people with a need and right to know. Often they form a plan, but take so long to implement it that it becomes redundant, but they do not reassess things.

METI FOSTER PARENTS CONTEST THE RELOCATION OF THEIR METIS FOSTER CHILD

CBC photo of child known as S.S.

This is a highly emotional custody battle. It's playing out in a B.C. Court. The B.C. Ministry of Children have decided to remove a happy Metis toddler from her Metis foster parents who reside on Vancouver Island and relocate her to Ontario to the non Metis couple who are raising the girl's siblings. This two year old has never met her siblings and her biological parents who wish to continue contact also reside on Vancouver Island. Her birth father said, “We love our daughter very, very much. And she needs to stay here. She needs to stay where her home is.” "She's so happy." “The foster parents are amazing. They’re wonderful people,” the birth father added. “I wish they were my own parents in some ways.” ---- Tomorrow an incisive response from Ray Ferris.

B.C. LIBERAL CATALOGUE OF PROBLEMS

I don't like carping about my provincial government. I wish there were no reasons for faultfinding. The Liberals under Christy Clark's leadership are responsible for some concerning decisions and policies. Here they are.

MORE BAD NEWS ABOUT THE MINISTRY OF CHILDREN

             The B.C. Ministry of Children is in the news almost every day. The items are invariably unpleasant. Two more headline stories this week, indications of a systemic limitation - control and accountability. It's not Stephanie Cadieux's fault. The Honourable Minister is an honourable woman. She cannot be responsible for what social workers and their supervisors decide and effect. Ministers change yet the negative press repeats year after year. Protection of children and care for vulnerable children is undeniably difficult and problematic. Before she is moved on, she and her office must genuinely dialogue with Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, Representative for Children and Youth and official watchdog over the Ministry of Children, and address jointly constructed plans, policies and action steps to transform this Ministry. The window of opportunity may be small since Turpel-Lafond's 10-year term is finishing.

            So here are the two newsmaker articles this week.