| LIBERAL ANSWER ON CHILD SAFETY - FILE A FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST |
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| Sunday, 27 May 2007 19:00 |
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Opposition Children and Youth Critic Lisa MacLeod is convinced Liberal apathy is systemic QUEEN’S PARK, May 28, 2007 – Following yet another Question Period with the McGuinty Liberals refusing to provide answers - today regarding reports of abuse at provincially licensed day care facilities - Opposition Children and Youth Critic Lisa MacLeod is convinced Liberal apathy towards their responsibility to protect Ontario’s children has become systemic. "The Auditor General made us and you aware of the serious abuses in Ontario’s children’s aid societies. At the time, the minister was slow to act. You’ll also recall earlier this spring when the Ombudsman was called in to intervene on behalf of children and youth at the Phoenix Centre in Petawawa, to stand up on their behalf," said MacLeod. "Now we have further reports of the McGuinty government’s apathy towards the wellbeing and safety of Ontario’s children as outlined on the front page of today’s Toronto Star. It appears this apathy is becoming systemic and a pattern of behaviour." MacLeod today sent a letter to the Minister of Children and Youth Services and raised questions in the Ontario Legislature asking the government to reveal exactly when it first learned of accusations of abuse, why it had not taken any action to ensure abuse would not continue to occur, and why this information has been kept secret from Ontario parents. "The minister knew of the problems identified by the Auditor General in 2005. She knew of the massive Toronto Star request for information over a year and a half ago, and she knew of the update being given in the public accounts committee this past March," said MacLeod. "Yet it appears, yet again, she did nothing but deny and delay access to information." "Why did she go to such lengths to prevent this information from getting out to the public and into the hands of parents with small children? She doesn’t think parents are entitled to it," said MacLeod. "Her answer simply to parents today, ‘File an information request if you want to find out about a daycare in the city of Toronto or anywhere else in the province of Ontario.’" - 30 - For more information: Stephen Gilman, Executive Assistant Nepean: 613-823-2116 Queen’s Park: 416-325-6351 Cell: 613-297-2051 Web: www.lisamacleod.com |