November 14, 1996
(Social Services)

Honourable Joan Marie Aylward

Jamie Batten

While it is not a practice of this department to disclose any specific information about individual cases, and I am very hesitant to do so, today I feel I must address some circumstances involving the life of Jamie Batten. Other sources have brought the Jamie Batten case to light and have offered limited information which is raising concerns throughout the province and country. Some questions need to be answered to reassure the general public that the system has not abandoned a child in need. My previous reluctance to speak about the case involves a person's right to privacy and confidentiality. The amount of disclosure surrounding this case by so many people makes it even more important that I make this statement today. However, let me assure you that we have been, and will continue, to move forward in a safe and appropriate manner on behalf of Jamie. In every case involving child protection a number of processes have to be followed. This case is no different. While the duration of time it takes to work through the system is frustrating and longer than families like, and indeed longer than we in government would like, there are many aspects and departments involved to ensure correct decisions are ultimately reached in both the short and long term best interest of the child.

Jamie Batten is currently a ward of the Director of Child Welfare and is in a safe and loving environment with qualified foster parents. The legal process dictates that in every temporary wardship case, the Director of Child Welfare must return to court to seek new direction. In this case, the Director will be returning to court and will be making a strong recommendation to the court with respect to the long-term placement of this child. This plan we have made known to the family in Saskatoon as well as the father.

I have to admit this process has taken a long time, and we do have to let the process take its course. We are dealing with this case as expeditiously as possible and can assure Jamie's safety and well-being during the interim. Many departments are involved and in some cases, other province's departments are involved as well.

I have to say that I have every confidence in our Child Protection workers. They are professional, dedicated people who will continue to advocate on behalf of Jamie as well as other children in need of their services.

Since I became Minister of Social Services on March 14, 1996, I have set child welfare issues as the number one priority. As early as June of this year, I seconded a lawyer from the Department of Justice with a social work background to begin a legislative review of our child welfare legislation. It is long overdue. We acknowledge that service to the public, and in particular to children, can be improved. The Department of Social Services is the first to admit that we are far from perfect, and we have clearly admitted this. We are well along with the review process, and we intend to bring forward new child welfare legislation in 1997.

I want to conclude by saying that not only as a Minister of Social Services, but as a nurse and a mother of three young children, I know the importance of child safety. I can assure you today that everything will be done to ensure the continued safety and well-being of Jamie with a long-term goal of placing him in a stable, family environment.