Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver, BC – The First Nations Summit (FNS) is deeply disappointed in the recent decision by the Ministry of Children and Families (MCFD) to appeal a BC Supreme Court (BCSC) decision that found Ministry staff disregarded the safety of children from a Vancouver family, resulting in exposing the children to an abusive situation with at least one child being sexually abused by their father.
“This appeal clearly reflects continued bad decision-making by the Minister and senior MCFD bureaucrats”, said Cheryl Casimer of the FNS political executive. “MCFD should not be hiding from the findings contained in the BCSC decision, rather they should be looking at immediate ways to ensure a similar situation is not repeated in the future.”
The FNS has supported the work of Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, BC Representative for Children and Youth (RCY) as an independent oversight on Children and Family issues in BC as well as her many reports and recommendations. The FNS is of the view that, as a non-partisan, independent officer of the Legislature, the RCY should further investigate and make recommendations regarding this case.