All those opposed to the motion, please stand.

---Applause

All those abstaining, please stand.

Results of the vote are: in favour, nine; opposed, two; abstaining, six. The motion is carried.

---Carried

---Applause

Motions. First reading of bills. Second reading of bills. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Committee Report 3-15(6), with Mrs. Groenewegen in the chair.

What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the committee wishes to consider Committee Report 3-15(6), Child and Family Services Act. Mahsi, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Is committee agreed?

(Mrs. Groenewegen): Thank you. We will do that after a break.

---SHORT RECESS

I would like to call Committee of the Whole to order. We were dealing with Committee Report 3-15(6), Report on Matters Related to Child and Family Services Act. There are six recommendations in the form of motions. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The Standing Committee on Social Programs read into this House, for the record, the committee report. It dealt with issues arising out of our committee's review of the amendment to the Child and Family Services Act. In our discussions and public hearings, we came to realize that there were lots of concerns that were brought to us by the members of the public, as well as within our committee. We chose to file a different report on that because we realize that some of those issues that were brought up were not within the...(inaudible)...of the amendment which was quite narrow in scope. So we have read into the record six motions earlier, recommendations, and we want to turn them into motions in this setting.

To start with, I would like to ask the deputy chair of the committee, Mr. Norman Yakeleya, to do the first motion.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the point that we heard very clearly from our deliberations was in terms of respecting the use of the aboriginal languages in sensitive issues like this and the culture and the emotional state of some of these families and communities that are being dealt with in this manner. Madam Chair, there are certain practices by social services and child protection workers that, at times, require them to have our people, especially the families, understand what's really happening, haven't been communicated through their language. Sometimes the language barrier there causes some further hardships and grief and further stress on the families. So, Madam Chair, we want to give the recommendations to the government to use the First Nations language when they are dealing with issues like this and that they make every possible means of supporting resources to the families here in terms of how they deal with children, how they deal with mothers and taking into account the cultural background of the aboriginal people. Sometimes if you ask if they want something, they won't say yes. Sometimes they won't even ask. They will say the workers didn't ask or people didn't ask for it and they won't ask for it. You have to take cultural sensitivity and cultural understanding of the parents in communities.

So, Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the existing practice of offering translation service be continued and that child protection workers be required to take into account the emotion and cultural background of a person being offered translation services and when there is any doubt providing necessary translation services as a matter of course. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question is being called. All those in favour of the motion? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Minister examines the issue of involving non-custodial parents in caring for apprehended children and, if necessary, make required necessary and regulatory changes to allow child protection workers the discretionary powers to place apprehended children with the non-custodial parent on a temporary basis, providing it is in the best interest of the child. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Braden.

A bit of the context to this, Madam Chair. Of course, parental break-up is prevalent everywhere. In the event that a child is removed from the parent that does have custody, we heard in our travels that, in some cases, the other parent, while they may be sort of separated and out of the household, could still be a very viable and a safe place for the apprehended child to go. I guess what we want to do is ask the Minister to clear the way. I think there are some barriers in place now that may prevent childcare workers from going to the separated non-custodial parent. We think that there is value in allowing a childcare worker to look at that as an option. It can be very painful for a non-custodial parent to see their child going to a non-related home because of some systemic problem. We think that this option should be made available. That is the purpose of the motion, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. To the motion.

Question has been called. All those in favour of the motion? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Lafferty.