NDP demands Liberal government act on Katelynn Sampson coroner’s inquest

Ontario NDP Children and Youth Services Critic, Monique Taylor, today issued the following statement in response to the start of Katelynn Sampson’s coroner’s inquest. 

“As the Ontario NDP's critic for Children and Youth Services I welcome and will monitor closely the Katelynn Sampson inquest, seven years after her tragic and preventable death.  

“We know that the system of child welfare in this province badly needs an overhaul so that there are no more Katelynn Sampsons.

“My private member’s bill (117), which would require agencies to immediately notify the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth any time there is a serious incident involving a child or youth in care where there is injury or death, is only one necessary step toward reform and accountability in the child welfare sector.

“The judge in the trial of Katelynn’s abusers remarked that, “alarm bells were ringing but no one was responding” and so I call on the Liberal government to respond without delay to any of the coroner’s recommendations that result from this inquest.”