Reappointment of child/youth representative Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond
- Jacqueline Lamoureux
- Closed on
- Target:
- Christy Clark, Premier of British Columbia, Mary McNeil, Committee Chair, Families First
- Region:
- British Columbia, Canada
- Website:
- www.rcybc.ca
Turpel-Lafond reappointed B.C. children's watchdog
The Canadian Press
Posted: Nov 15, 2011 7:55 PM PT
Last Updated: Nov 15, 2011 7:53 PM PT
Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond will be looking out for the interests of children in B.C. for another five years. Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond will be looking out for the interests of children in B.C. for another five years. CBC
A former Saskatchewan judge who's often been a thorn in the side of the B.C. government over child welfare issues has been given a second five-year term as B.C.'s child watchdog.
Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond was reappointed Tuesday as the Representative for Children and Youth after a unanimous recommendation from a special legislative committee.
"She has proven with tenacity and with diligence and with never losing sight of what the mandate is, that she has a constructive contribution to make," said Liberal MLA Colin Hansen, the committee chair.
Turpel-Lafond has often blasted the B.C. government for failing to hand over files or follow through on recommendations to prevent the death and injury of children in government care.
Just last month she said a $6 million court award for children who were abused for years by their parents was a clear message that improvements are needed in B.C.'s child welfare system.
Turpel-Lafond was first appointed as children's representative in 2006.
With files from the CBC's Jeff Davies
Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond the representative serves as both an advocate for children and youth and a watchdog on the Ministry for Children and Families. Her term is up in November 2011 & NDP wants her re-elected. The Liberals not so much.
Throughout her tenure, Ms. Turpel-Lafond has met resistance to her watchdog role. She has accused the government of ignoring her reports on deaths and critical injuries of children in government care, and has battled to protect her office budget.
Committee chair Colin Hansen, a BC Liberal MLA, said the decision is more complicated than that. He noted that the law that created the office of the representative is being reviewed by a separate committee of the legislature, and that work could delay the appointment.
We, the undersigned, call on the Premier of British Columbia, Christy Clark & Mary McNeil Minister of Children and Family Development, Chair of Committee, Families First, to renew Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond's position as Representative for Children and Youth for British Columbia.
The Reappointment of child/youth representative Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond petition to Christy Clark, Premier of British Columbia, Mary McNeil, Committee Chair, Families First was written by Jacqueline Lamoureux and is in the category Children's Rights at GoPetition.