Province seeks input as part of Child Protection Act review

January 25, 2016

The newly-appointed Child Protection Act Review Advisory Committee will begin consultations later this month, says Minister of Family and Human Services Tina Mundy.“This review of the Child Protection Act provides an opportunity for public engagement and conversation on the important issue of child protection,” said Minister Mundy. “I am confident that the individuals selected to do this important work have the best interest of Island children and families in mind and will do an excellent job of listening to the viewpoints of Islanders.”

In November 2015, pursuant to the Child Protection Act and Regulations, the following individuals were appointed to the Advisory Committee:

• Patsy MacLean (Chair) – HR Atlantic;

• Tammy Arsenault – Aboriginal representative;

• Leslie Collins – Legal Aid lawyer;

• David Larter – Legal Counsel to the Director of Child Protection;

• Rona Smith, Maureen MacEwen, Sally Ripley, Katrina Anderson, and Joyce Robertson – employees of Department of Family and Human Services;

• Wendy McCourt, Director of Child Protection;

• Dr. Heather Morrison – Chief Public Health Officer;

• Dr. Philip Smith – University of Prince Edward Island; and

• Victoria Pineau, Taylor Wilson, and Danny Phalen – youth representatives

The intent of the review is to seek public input and report on the administration of the Act and ensure that its principles and purpose are being achieved. The committee will provide a report to the Minister of Family and Human Services within six months. This report will enable government to consider the need for legislative and policy changes.

“Our government wants to continue to learn how we can help protect children from parental harm,” said the Minister. “Islanders have a great history of caring and citizen engagement and we are committed to working closely with individuals and groups across the province to provide the best services possible to meet the needs of Island children and families.”

The public will have a number of opportunities to provide input. The Advisory Committee will be accepting written submissions by mail or email and will host a number of public meetings across the province. The first public meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 3, at Hernewood Intermediate School in Bloomfield. The full schedule of public meetings is available in the attached backgrounder and at www.gov.pe.ca/sss/childprotectionact

BACKGROUNDER

Child Protection Act Review

As defined in the Child Protection Act & Regulations the Minister of Family and Human Services is required to appoint an advisory committee to review the Act. The purpose of the review is to report on the operation and administration of the Act and to determine if the principles and purposes of the Act are being achieved.

The Child Protection Act was proclaimed in 2003 and replaced the Family and Child Services Act. The Child Protection Act was first reviewed in 2007. A final report from the 2007 review entitled, “What We Heard: A Report of the Child Protection Act Review Advisory Committee”, is available at: www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/cpa_Report2008.pdf

Ms. MacLean will again chair the Advisory Committee for the 2016 review. Individuals and groups are invited to provide input to the Child Protection Act Advisory Committee through a variety of methods including:

• attending a public consultation;

• participating in targeted consultations for employees of Child & Family Services, foster parents, professional services providers and Aboriginal communities;

• forwarding a written submission using mail or email;

• requesting a specific group meeting with Advisory Committee representatives; or,

• requesting a private and confidential meeting with a member of the Advisory Committee.

Public sessions will be hosted by the committee in a number of island communities as follows:

Date and Location

February 3, 2016 7pm – 9pm Hernewood Intermediate School, Bloomfield (February 4, 2016 – Storm date)

February 10, 2016 7pm – 9pm Athena Consolidated School, Summerside (Bilingual French/English consultation) (February 11, 2016 – Storm date)

February 17, 2016 7pm – 9pm Spring Park School, Charlottetown (February 22, 2016 – Storm date)

February 24, 2016 7pm – 9pm Montague High School, Montague (February 25, 2016 – Storm date)

March 2, 2016 7pm – 9pm Souris Regional School, Souris (March 3, 2016 – Storm date)

More information about the review and how to participate is available at: www.gov.pe.ca/sss/childprotectionact.

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Media Contact: Maureen Flanagan-LeClair

NT5