(December 13, 2021) – Jeff Dwyer, PC Opposition Shadow Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development and MHA for Placentia West-Bellevue, says he is alarmed by the findings of the “No Time to Spare” and “Blanket of Insecurity” reports released by the Child and Youth Advocate.

The Child and Youth Advocate outlines a very clear message that there is no time to spare. The report clearly identifies deficiencies in case management and collaboration that is fueled by the lack of support offered to social workers in this province by the Minister of Children, Senior and Social Development.

“Child Protection Services are supposed to provide the positive interventions one should expect and hope. Meanwhile, under the leadership of Premier Furey and Minister Abbott, we continue to see children falling between the cracks due to a lack of action on the many reports of the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate and lack of support for social workers on the front lines. This is clearly just unacceptable,” said Dwyer.

“In 2021, no child should be left behind due to inefficiencies in our foster care system.”

The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate has indicated that this investigation “has identified decisions and processes that were clearly not in the best interests of this child. He deserved better.”

“This is an issue that the Premier and Minister must address immediately. A child’s rights are not abstract. When will this government recognize that we have a crisis in our foster care system?”

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Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Strategic Communications

(cell) 709-725-0984

DavidMaher@gov.nl.ca