Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The boards are responsible for the operation of foster care services in accordance with the Child and Family Services Act and regulations that are set out by the department. I know a number of jurisdictions have foster family associations who are actively involved in recruiting suitable foster homes for children, so in the event that children need to be apprehended, there are suitable homes in the community available for them.
One of the areas I would like to see more work done, and it is not only recruiting homes, but providing training and accreditation for various levels of care that children may need to receive in those homes. I do not know if specific initiatives are being undertaken to recruit homes at this time, but I could communicate with the boards and with the foster parent associations and find out what kinds of things they are doing.
It is a very difficult task. The payment for foster parent homes and providing that service, is currently $24 per day to accommodate, feed and care for a child. There are not a lot of people interested in getting involved in that line of work. Thank you.