The Official Opposition supports the Child and Youth Advocate’s recommendations following the “Off The Radar” report and calls on the Conservative Government to take immediate action to close the loopholes that allowed these children to fall through the cracks.
The findings of this report are deeply concerning and our thoughts are with the children impacted. No child should ever be without proper oversight, support, or protection because of gaps in communication or accountability between jurisdictions.
The Child and Youth Advocate has outlined four important recommendations to strengthen the system, including requiring interprovincial placement agreements before children are placed in Newfoundland and Labrador, improving oversight and communication on interprovincial files, removing the term “courtesy” from policies governing supervision of children placed here from other jurisdictions, and expanding the role of the local interprovincial coordinator.
We recognize the Department of Social Supports and Well-Being has taken some steps to improve communication and documentation, but these recommendations must be fully implemented to ensure children do not fall off the radar again.
The safety, well-being, and rights of children depend on the provincial government getting these systems right. The government must act on the Advocate’s recommendations and ensure every child receives the care, oversight, and protection they deserve.
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