Minister announces legislation to establish a Child and Youth Advocate

Health and Community Services Minister Julie Bettney has announced legislation to establish a Child and Youth Advocate for Newfoundland and Labrador. The legislation will provide for the hiring of an advocate to lobby on behalf of individual children and youth in this province.

"Newfoundland and Labrador is pleased to join other provinces across the country in establishing a mechanism for child and youth advocacy," said Minister Bettney. To date, seven provinces including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia have enacted legislation which addresses advocacy. This legislation will bring this province in line with what is occurring across the country.

"In fact, this legislation goes further than most jurisdictions in Canada. We believe this legislation will establish Newfoundland and Labrador as one of the leaders of child and youth advocacy in this country."

The Child and Youth Advocate will focus on public programs and services that have an impact on children and youth under 19. The advocate will also review enquiries and complaints from individual children and youth, up until the age of 21, for youth who are in care or custody upon their 19th birthday.

The office will be independent of the provincial government and will report directly to the House of Assembly. The scope and mandate of the legislation allows for the advocate to respond on behalf of children and youth who receive service and assistance from all government departments and agencies. While the advocate will respond to systemic issues in education, the mandate will not extend to individual advocacy. School districts are administered through duly-elected boards who have within their mandate the responsibility to advocate for children within their districts.

"Government consulted widely on developing this new legislation," said Minister Bettney. "Approximately 85 individuals representing a variety of organizations from across the province participated in a forum in March. In general, everyone supported the concepts of the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate, including a mandate for individual case and systemic advocacy. I am pleased the bill that is now before the House of Assembly reflects substantially the recommendations of the public."

When the legislation has been proclaimed, an open recruitment process will be launched. The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate is expected to be operational in 2002.

Media contact: Carmel Turpin, Communications, (709) 729-1377.

2001 11 29                            3:40 p.m.