PC GOVERNMENT PRO CAS

Ontario Government Tips Scales in Favour of Child Protection
March 27, 2000

– The Ontario government is taking significant steps to improve child protection throughout the province, including new legislation that becomes law on March 31, and an additional $106 million in funding for Children’s Aid Societies. The announcement was made today at the Catholic Children’s Aid Society in Toronto by Community and Social Services Minister John Baird, Education Minister Janet Ecker and the Minister Responsible for Children Margaret Marland.

"The new Child and Family Services Amendment Act gives child protection workers, professionals who work with children, and the courts the tools necessary to better protect children in Ontario," said Baird. "The amendments to the Act represent the first major changes to Ontario’s child protection laws in over a decade, and I am proud that our government is putting the interests of children first." Baird noted, "These changes were unanimously supported by MPPs of all political stripes."

"Children’s aid societies have a special responsibility to protect the young from harm," added Mary McConville, executive director of the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto. "These long-awaited amendments will ensure that the safety, protection and best interests of children will be considered above all else in child welfare matters.

" Using the scales of justice and children’s blocks to spell the word "SAFE", Baird demonstrated how the many measures taken to protect children in Ontario have tipped the scales to ensure the best interests of children come first.

These measures include:
Service: Better service to vulnerable children through improved standards, common assessment tools, and a system-wide information database.
Accountability: Steps to monitor the implementation of the child welfare reform initiatives and ensure better outcomes for children.

Funding: A new way of funding children’s aid societies that better reflects workload and services needs, as well as increased funding to hire more front-line staff and increase rates for foster parents.

Education: Enhanced training for children’s aid society boards and staff, foster parents and Ministry staff, as well as the development of training materials for professionals who work with children.

"Children’s aid societies have long advocated for stronger legislation and better resources to do our jobs," said Jeanette Lewis, Executive Director of the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies. "With these reforms, the government has proven that it cares about protecting Ontario’s children."

The Ontario government now spends more on child protection than any other government in the history of this province. Children’s aid societies have received $106 million in new funding this year, which is being used to hire additional staff, and to cover costs associated with the implementation of child protection reforms. This brings total funding for child protection to $654.4 million, an increase of more than 80 % since 1995.

"Such a substantial funding increase in this fiscal climate highlights the political priority the Mike Harris government has put on child protection," said Baird.

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