Minister promises foster child review

Edmonton Sun March 10, 2009

KERRY DIOTTE

The provincial NDP yesterday called in vain for the resignation of the minister responsible for children's services.

But they claimed a small victory when the minister promised a review into the case of a foster child who wound up in a Calgary hospital with life-threatening injuries.

"It's like pulling teeth to make this government do the right thing," NDP MLA Rachel Notley said outside the house after calling in the legislature for the minister's resignation.

"A government review will never be as independent as an inquiry, but at least it will be public. That's a start," said Notley, who made the case public last week.

Children and Youth Services Minister Janis Tarchuk announced yesterday her department will hold a special case review into the incident involving a 14-month-old foster boy.

It would probe whether ministry practices were followed. "I'm committed to finding answers and sharing as much as we are legally able to with the public," Tarchuk said. "That's why the findings of the special case review into the serious injury of this child will be made public."

Notley is still upset that Tarchuk last fall refused to publicly share a review of foster care abuses spelled out in reports from the province's Child and Youth Advocate and in June would not make public a review of a 2007 death of a child in government care.

Keeping a bedside vigil for her son, who remains on life support, the birth mother said she's grateful a review is underway.

"They need to find out what happened to my son - no kid should ever have to go through that," said the mom, who cannot be named to protect the boy's identity. "My opinion as a mother is if they're going to take our children away from us, they better do their jobs."

RCMP are investigating the case.