Gordon Campbell's government came under fire today for not taking care of British Columbia's children in care. The province's new child protection watchdog says changes are coming too slowly, which puts children's lives at stake.
The changes came five years after social workers placed 19-month-old Sherry Charlie in a Port Alberni home. She was brutally beaten and killed by a man who lived there.
Eighteen months ago, Ted Hughes, a retired judge, made 62 recommendations to improve the lives of vulnerable children.
But Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, the Representative for Children and Youth, an independent children's watchdog, slammed the government for poor progress. "There has been insufficient leadership where leadership was required by the ministry," she told CTV News.
Of the 62 Hughes recommendations:
- 18 are complete
- 19 are in the early planning stage
- 25 have little or no progress
Carole James, NDP Leader, attacked the Minister for Children and Family Development saying there have been enough excuses. "Why did he and the premier break their promise to the most vulnerable children in our province and not implement the Hughes recommendations."
But the government rejects the harsh criticism. Tom Christensen, the Minister for Children and Family Development says there has been plenty of action, "We have made significant progress on the (Hughes) recommendations there is more work to be done but we believe that work is underway in respect of each of the recommendations"
Sherry Charlie would have turned eight years old this January.
