AN OPEN LETTER TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE – PART 1of5 / 563

Ray Ferris is my guest writer for the next five GPS posts. He retired after a career that included significant years with the MCFD. In five parts this will be the substance of a letter already sent to specific officers of the government and offered publicly now using the Bayne Case to expose flaws and remedies in the child protection system. Here is part one of his letter.



THE BAYNE CASE AS A GRAPHIC EXAMPLE OF FLAWS – PART 1
My purpose in writing to you is to draw your attention to the facts in a particular case and in some related cases in order to illustrate a number of serious problems in the child protection system. Some of these problems are systemic and others are not. Where the problem is systemic, I offer some suggested remedies that can be tried. I think that there are possible remedies for the non-systemic problems, but they are deep-seated and difficult to correct. It can be noted that non-systemic problems cannot by remedied by making administrative or systemic changes. This is one of the reasons why the past systemic changes recommended by people like Gove and Hughes have not worked and have in many respects simply created new problems.

YOU MAY WANT TO ASK HON. MARY MCNEIL TO HELP US / 562

Hon. Mary McNeil

When Premier Christy Clark announced the new cabinet, I happily blogged the news with you on March 14, 2011 that Mary McNeil had been elevated to the position of Minister of MCFD ('NEWS RELEASE - NEW MCFD MINISTER). Our optimism at a new chapter for child welfare and child protection and family development jumped higher when other announcements followed as I indicated on June 1, 2011. The new Deputy Minister MCFD is Stephen Brown and the re-instituted position of Provincial Director of Child Welfare was filled by Doug Hughes (another Doug Hughes post), (and another Stephen Brown post). This has seemed to be a team that desires to work in cooperation with the Advocate for Children and Youth, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond.  I trust that will be true and profitable for the youth of this province. What we need now, is some evidence that these officials are paying attention to what truly counts, compassionate and effective front line work that carefully preserves families while simultaneously protecting vulnerable children. Because there are numerous cases including the Baynes, that point to the need for reform to this Ministry, you may want to communicate with Hon. Mary McNeil in a courteous and informative manner.

REASONS TO BELIEVE CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES ARE OUT OF CONTROL / 560

Child Protective Services in British Columbia fall under the mandate of the Ministry of Children and Family Services (MCFD). MCFD responds to reports of child abuse or neglect. Premier Christie has been championing the notion of servicing families effectively since she was elected this year. It remains to be seen whether there will be legs to this lofty promise. Real cases of disenfranchised families interrupted by MCFD in what often appears to be unnecessary severity as in child removals continue to occur and government in Victoria predictably responds with a no comment statement.

CANADA DAY, CHARTER OF RIGHTS & FREEDOMS, PROTECTION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS / 559

O Canada, Glorious and Free ………….. We stand on guard for thee.

Parents have brought children into the world. Inherent in our society is the conviction that the primary responsibility for care of the children belongs to the parents. That conviction translates into actual parental rights with regard to their children. Parental rights are viewed as "natural rights." It’s an essential tenet of cultural and societal Canadian life that parents will care for and control their children.

It is reasonably assumed within our society that parents are acting and will act in the child’s best interests. The protection of parental rights is founded on this fundamental postulation. The protection of such parental rights it follows will advance a child’s welfare.