Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, the committee is appreciative that one of the results of the passage of Bill 5 will be the inclusion of a new clause in the preamble of the Child and Family Services Act that states "And whereas a child's extended family can often provide important supports in meeting the best interests of the child;".
A preamble to an act is important in that the preamble sets out the principles that will guide the application of the act.
Recognizing the role of the extended family in child protection matters is an important step and now we need to take the next steps to ensure that this important sentiment continues to be reflected in the day-to-day practices of the child protection workers.
During our hearing on Bill 5, in the community of Behchoko, we heard from Chief Leon Lafferty and his disappointment that Bill 5 did not specifically address the role of aboriginal families and did not take into account aboriginal traditions.
We also heard from elders, Mrs. Vernick Erasmus and Mr. Phillip Huskey, on the need to keep apprehended aboriginal children in their home communities, with their extended families, wherever possible.
Many members of the Social Programs committee have heard from constituents concerned about the placement of aboriginal children with non-aboriginal foster families, both in and outside of the community. Many of these constituents have pointed out that there are members of the child's extended families that are suitable and prepared to offer the child a stable and loving environment.
It is understood by the committee that the child protection worker already has the discretionary power to place an apprehended child with a member of the child's extended family and that this does occur in many cases.
Members were made aware of cases where this has not occurred. It is recognized that there are valid reasons, like a late night apprehension or the need to run background checks on members of the extended family, and that this sometimes means a child is placed in temporary foster care, outside of the extended family.
However, in cases where a child is unlikely to be returned to the custodial parent, and where there is no suitable non-custodial parent, there should be an onus on the child protection worker to place the child with a suitable member of the child's extended family in the child's home community, before any consideration is given to removing the child from the home community or placing an aboriginal child with a non-aboriginal foster parent.
Recommendation
The committee recommends the Minister issue a directive reinforcing the use of extended families in the placement of apprehended children and that every effort be made to place children with extended family within the child's home community, before a child protection worker considers placement in a foster home in or outside of the child's home community.
Mr. Speaker, I'd like to pass it on to my colleague Mr. Braden. Mahsi.