YOUNGSON: In pursuit of David Morse

by Linda Youngson

I want to make some corrections to the an article that was written in the Halifax Herald on Thursday, June 23, 2005 by David Jackson:

"Party to sue to force review of Children's and Family Services Act/NDP: Lack of committee against provincial law/Party to sue to force review of Children's and Family Services Act"

It is Marilyn Dey and I who are taking the Minister of Children Services, David Morse,to court NOT Graham Steele. Graham Steele is our lawyer. Though I wish we were, we are not suing the Minister. But we are bringing this to court to force the Minister to obey the law of the land.

We are appreciative that the NDP party is backing this action in a practical way by giving us Graham Steele, NDP MLA, to be our lawyer, free of charge, BUT Marilyn, I, and a number of other women we are connected with have been chasing the NDP party for 2 years now to do something on this issue, as well as a number of other issues concerning Children's Service / Children's Aid (CS/CA).

We believe it is important that the public understand that we have been doing the research and the lobbying because we want people to understand that our research is credible, and we believe it is important that people hear what we have to say because there is so much more information that we have that the public needs to be aware of concerning the CS/CA.

A full year ago I wrote a letter to the editor that was published in the Halifax Herald demanding that the Minister put together this Advisory Committee as mandated by the law:

PRINTED IN HALIFAX HERALD, Friday June 25, 20004
Voice of the People

Frustration Mounts

We should all be concerned about the act of frustration that was demonstrated across the front pages during the recent Fink incident. There are many people in this province who are equally frustrated with Children’s Aid/ Children’s Services and the justice system that surrounds it. And the people of Nova Scotia are being denied a legal avenue of expression by our provincial government.

Section 88, subsection 1, of the Children and Family Services Act mandates the minister of Community Services to establish an advisory committee to review the act on an annual basis to report on the operation of the act, and whether the principles and the purposes of the act are being achieved. Section 88, subsection 2, mandates the inclusion on the committee of people who have had their children in care.

However, since 1990 there has only been three reviews: 1993, 1996, and 1999. Does the government intend to fan the fires of frustration by continuing to ignore its responsibility to establish this avenue of expression that is mandated by law?

Premier John Hamm and Community Services Minister David Morse: The law dictates that you re-establish these annual reviews, and I challenge you to establish a committee with members who will express the concerns they harbour about the Children and Family Services Act and its implementation.

Linda D Youngson , Dartmouth

It's been a long time waiting for the people of Nova Scotia to be aware of this one issue! But it is satisfying to know that so many people know this now.

But this is only the tip of the iceberg. Now we need to educate the people on ALL THE REST! ! !