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.

CHILD WELFARE IN CANADA, IN ABBOTSFORD & THE CURRENT AYN VAN DYK CASE / 558

Child welfare in Canada contains both government and private services which are designed to protect children and to encourage family stability. The primary objective of the services provided is to safeguard children from both abuse and neglect. Services termed ‘child protection services’ investigate allegations of both abuse and neglect. They may also supervise foster care and adoption services. It was not unfair of me to place the protective concentration first, and now to tell you that in addition child welfare offers services that seek to stabilize and develop families. All of Canada’s provinces and territories have child welfare agencies accessible 24 hours daily and networked together these are called the Canadian Child Welfare System.

But I will tell you about a little girl in a moment or so who did not need Child Welfare messing with her life.

READ THIS, READ THIS - ZABETH HAS GOOD NEWS / 557

Zabeth Bayne communicated her good news to me yesterday afternoon and last evening she also told Kari Simpson and Terry O’Neill and their radio audience the elevating update. People that know, love and support the Baynes have waited for the kind of indicator that we heard. It certainly was the best news that I have heard since I began writing about the Bayne case two years ago.

Kari Simpson and Terry O'Neill are blunt critics of the practices of the Ministry of Children and Family Development which Kari and Terry dub the Ministry of Destruction!

Last night the primary story was the interview with Derek Hoare, the committed father of three children, one of whom, his nine year old autistic daughter was removed by the MCFD fourteen days ago. I told his story here on Saturday June25th with the piece entitled ‘Derek Hoare and his Daughter Ayn.’

It was a dramatic juxtaposition of one heart-wrenching Ministry related family experience and the other family’s heartening news.

Roadkill Interview of Derek Hoare Tonight / 556

Roadkill Radio next Live Interview Show is tonight June 28, 2011, from 7:30pm to 9:30pm Pacific, at which time Terry O’Neill & Kari Simpson will be interviewing Derek Hoare who was featured on this GPS blog's June 25, 2011 post entitled, DEREK HOARE AND HIS DAUGHTER AYN

• Derek is an eloquent, intelligent, and highly competent father;
• This is day 12 since removal;
• Ayn was taken from her school. No clothing or toys from home were taken;
• MCFD said she would be placed in a foster home;
• Her autistic condition is too severe so she is in a facility to be stabilized;
• MCFD has not told Derek where she is or how she is;
• Derek believes in civil liberties so MCFD view him as uncooperative;
• A hearing was held Tuesday & he only received the papers as he sat there;
• Presentation is July 12th and Derek believes he will have to contest it;
• If he contests it, then he will not be heard for 90 days from now;
• Terry and Kari intend to call upon the Minister of MCFD Hon. Mary McNeil;
• We are l hoping Ms McNeil will take a personal interest and bring correction;
• If you couldn't listen live, then check the website and listen to the archive. 

Please contact Derek Hoare directly at 

Derek Hoare iconoclast_ensues@yahoo.com 904-HELP AYN 904-435-7296

JUDGE CRABTREE’S RULING REVISITED / 555

Judge Crabtree noted in the report that accompanied his conclusion, that from the outset of the Ministry’s involvement with the Bayne children, the parents were devoted to having access to their children and dedicated to asking for as much time as possible. He noted that they had applied several times for more time than the Ministry wanted to provide and they continued to pressure for more time and Crabtree saw this as a positive indicator. However, it also strained relations with Ministry personnel as he perceived it. (Now whose fault is that?)

Judge Crabtree gave indication that he understood the parents’ reluctance to be involved in a parental capacity assessment by the Ministry because he could appreciate that parents might feel this was an admission of guilt for an abuse alleged against them already. Even Judge Crabtree could discern and then write in his report that the relationship between the Baynes and the social workers had deteriorated so much that there was no longer trust, and communication was eroded. Neither party wanted any longer to deal with the other.

THE DIRECTOR’S CRITICAL ROLE / 554

The Regional Director in the Bayne Case is the final authority with respect to the work of the team of social workers assigned to this case. In 2010 he took the case to court to obtain a Continuing Care Order for three Bayne children. His position was clear. Because of the nature and extent of the injury sustained by the infant Bayne child (the Director would prefer to call it harm suffered by) and also because of the length of time that this matter has been outstanding, he wanted the children to be placed in his office’s continuing care.

As Judge Crabtree interpreted it, the Director argued that the time (in excess of three years) that these children have been in care was due to the parents’ position of innocence steadfastly maintained since the removal of the children. (That opinion is debatable. This CCO application was not presented by the Director until 2010 nor was there any court opportunity afforded to the Baynes prior to that to defend themselves against suspicion and allegation. And it may be argued, “well, that’s simply the way it is.” Then something within this system must be changed.)

DEREK HOARE AND HIS DAUGHTER AYN

Derek Hoare has three children and all three lived with him until ……… Well, wait until you hear this.

Photo by John Van Putten shows Derek with Ayn

Did your child ever go missing for a few minutes, for an hour or so? And were you desperate to find the child. Did you contact the police? And when you found the child weren’t you ecstatic and so grateful? So was Derek. But his joy didn’t last long.

His nine year old daughter Ayn VanDyk, (her mother's surname) was suddenly gone from his backyard at his Mt. Lehman Road home. He had taken numerous precautions for the care of his children. There is a six-foot fence that surrounds his yard. All windows and doors are locked and the doors require a key to exit from the inside. Yet one day recently, Ayn had climbed into her tree house, scaled the wall and disappeared. Derek spent 10 minutes running up and down the street in a rapid search for her and then he called the police who three hours later returned Ayn to her father. She ran to her dad and rapped her arms around him in a tearful embrace. She had been found safe at a pool in the yard of neighbours two house away.

Great! Right? Wrong! Four days later Ministry of Children and Family Development representatives arrived at his home with orders to remove Ayn. Just imagine what that did to this little girl and to this father.

LET THE FAMILY FINISH WRITING THEIR STORY / 553

As I begin today I want to dispense immediately with what will be the Ministry of Children and Family Development’s default response to what I have to say. That response will be, “The Baynes brought this upon themselves.” Readers, that is categorically untrue. Having made that clear I will get on with it.

random multi-generational no-name family photo

I am a grandparent and our home is just convenient minutes away from both sets of grandchildren. The grandchildren often spend time at our home. They eat meals here. They have learned to strike plastic golf balls. They play soccer and bacci ball. We go for walks to the playground. We stop at the corner store for slushies. They try on clothes that Grandma makes for them. They permit arms around their shoulders, and they listen to soft instruction. Life lessons subtley slipped in while watching TV or sitting together are common.

When I think of the Bayne children’s grandparents I am struck again with the privilege that is mine to enjoy my grandchildren whenever they want to come over or whenever I want to ask them.