Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I discuss the government’s response to the recommendations to the Child and Family Services Act review. In a nutshell, I am disappointed. Of 73 recommendations, 10 are rejected; 28 accepted conditionally read yes, but no change required; and 13 accepted in principle read yes, but no money. The detailed responses offer obtuse and often quibbling comments claiming that the recommended actions given such priority by the committee are already in practice or implicit in the legislation.
Anyone who sat through those exhaustive, emotional public hearings must wonder how so much that is supposedly implicit or in practice could so obviously be failing in delivery. Implicit or not, the committee thoroughly reviewed the act and concluded explicit wording and better practice was required.
Is the Minister failing to propose an ambitious response believing there is a lack of support in this Assembly for creating a new and improved system? Surely not. Has the government failed to understand that because of the system, the legislation delivery isn’t working, the people are demanding recourse through law that finally spells out the responsibilities government can be held accountable to?
As we’ve heard repeatedly, government has to wake up to the need for a whole new way of doing business. Early intervention and prevention in every community is where the human and fiscal savings lie. Until we turn our focus to causes instead of effects, we will continue to be swamped, mopping up consequences. Short-sighted thinking will only cause human and financial costs to mount.
How can the Minister say a plain-language act is not possible when so many jurisdictions across the country are adopting that very approach with acts of this sort? We are expecting a can-do approach from this government on this. Committee members are fully aware of the fiscal and organizational challenges we must confront and we are fully aware of current practices and what the act says. We will not wait through an endless rumination by justice on the will of the people. This 16th Assembly must begin making this vision real; lives are in the balance.
The Minister has support for a fresh start. Let’s get it done.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.
