NDP MPP Monique Taylor’s Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth Amendment Act passes second reading

NDP MPP and Critic for Children & Youth Services Monique Taylor’s private members bill, the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth Amendment Act, passed second reading this afternoon and will now go to committee

The Private Members’ Bill would require all agencies and service providers in Ontario to inform the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth if they become aware of the death or critical injury of a child where a Children’s Aid Society has been involved within 12 months of the death or injury.

The bill addresses an oversight in legislation to protect the province’s children and youth in care. The bill would also improve the way the Advocate can do their job by giving them quicker access to information.

According to the Provincial Advocate’s 2014 Report, Ontario’s Advocate’s Office is the only office of its kind in Canada with restricted access to information concerning incidents involving serious harm or death to children in their mandate.

“It’s my privilege as the NDP Critic for Children and Youth Services to introduce this bill, the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth Amendment Act, 2015. It’s a privilege because, as I’ve said before in this House many times, the Ministry of Children and Youth Services has a special responsibility to look out for the best interests of the most vulnerable kids in our province. It’s a branch of government that holds a fragile position with the trust of thousands of children and their families who require the support of the government when dealing with difficult and trying times.”

“All you have to do is put yourself in a child’s or their family’s shoes to know why this is incredibly important and incredibly important that we get it right,” Taylor said.