Ontario launches review following Ford criticism of children's aid societies
Ontario launched a review of the province's 37 non-Indigenous children's aid societies Wednesday after Premier Doug Ford suggested they are being financially mismanaged, but the unions representing CAS workers say it is a mere "smokescreen."
Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services officials say the review will look at issues such as the quality of protection they provide and their finances. As part of a background briefing Wednesday, they provided graphs that show annual funding for the sector steadily increased over the past decade to $1.7 billion this year, even as the number of children in care declined.
Ford indicated last week that his government was doing an audit, as he railed against "nightmare stories about the abuse of taxpayers' money." Officials said the process to look for an outside contractor to conduct the review was starting on Wednesday.
"I've heard stories of some of these agencies, they're working in Taj Mahals, they're paying rent, $100,000 for rent, that the managers are giving themselves a bonus," he said in response to a question at an unrelated press conference.
"All those managers giving yourself a bonus, not worrying about the kids, I'm coming for you. We're doing a complete audit, and if we see funds not being spent properly on the kids, guess what? You're looking for another job."
The Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies said it was disappointed Ford did not address the question of what the government was doing about reports of children's aid societies housing kids in hotels or offices because placements weren't available.
There are systemic barriers to providing services for kids with complex needs, the association wrote in a statement following Ford's press conference.
"This type of work is intensive, demanding significant time and resources," the group wrote.
"Additionally, the types of cases child welfare agencies encounter are becoming more and more complex. In a recent survey, 39 child welfare agencies reported that the number of children or youth requiring high-cost care (i.e., over $200,000 per year) has seen a significant increase over the past three years, doubling from 174 in 2021-2022 to 354 in 2023-2024."
Ministry officials who provided the background briefing on the review said societies' deficits are continuing to rise and the audit will examine the underlying issues and possible solutions.
The officials, who spoke on condition they not be identified, said the review will focus on service quality, consistency of services, out-of-home placements, finances, executive compensation, staffing models, cost structures, capital assets and integration with community supports.
Minister Michael Parsa said the review is part of other, ongoing efforts to try to improve the child welfare system.
"We'll see unprecedented funding, and then we'll see (cases) where a youth was placed in a home that failed a fire safety requirement, one that their food was restricted, and as a result they were injured after being restrained. Or in some cases, where funding is being used for unrelated programming, straining the budget of the agencies," Parsa said in an interview.
"This is all part of the process to make sure that their supports and the funding and the investments that are being made are utilized accordingly, appropriately, to protect children and youth in our province."
Ontario began an overhaul of the child welfare system four years ago, with a focus on keeping more families together and strengthening prevention and early intervention supports, but the unions representing CAS workers said there is little to show for it.
"It’s clear the announced audit is another smokescreen to distract from the government's abject failure to support children and families while opening the door for more privatization in the sector," the Ontario Public Service Employees Union and CUPE Ontario said in a joint statement.
"We need to end the for-profit models in all residential care facilities, and introduce province-wide licensing of group homes, to ensure our services place children at the centre of care," OPSEU president JP Hornick wrote.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 9, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates: Hurricane Milton approaching Florida
Hurricane Milton is a Category 4 storm forecast to bring extreme flooding, high winds and heavy rain to the central west coast of Florida.
Foreign affairs minister urges Canadians to leave Florida ahead of devastating storm
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says Canadians in Florida should leave and people planning to travel there should postpone as the state braces for the impact of Hurricane Milton.
Pilot dies aboard Turkish Airlines flight, forcing emergency landing in New York
A Turkish Airlines jetliner headed from Seattle to Istanbul made an emergency landing in New York on Wednesday after the captain died on board, an airline official said.
Rents rise 2.1% in September, marking fifth straight monthly slowdown: report
A new report says growth in average asking rents across Canada last month slowed to the lowest rate since October 2021, at 2.1 per cent year-over-year.
Hundreds of thousands of popular vehicles recalled in Canada over steering issue
Hundreds of thousands of vehicles are being recalled in Canada due to a steering-related issue that could increase a driver's risk of crash.
'We want things to go forward': Bloc leader hints his party 'might' help end House impasse
The leader of the Bloc Quebecois says his party 'might play a role' in helping the Liberals get House of Commons business rolling again — after days of Conservative-led debate on a privilege matter — but that his assistance would come at a cost.
What women should know about their breasts, according to a doctor
One in eight women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in their lifetimes, according to the American Cancer Society. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for women in the United States, with 42,000 women dying every year from this cancer.
Kremlin says Trump sent COVID tests to Russia during pandemic, denies report of Putin calls
The Kremlin said on Wednesday that the administration of former U.S. president Donald Trump had sent COVID tests to Russia but it denied reports that Trump had spoken at all to Russian President Vladimir Putin since leaving office.
B.C. protester who praised Hamas allowed to attend rallies again
A B.C. woman who was recorded praising Hamas as 'heroic and brave' can return to protest rallies, authorities confirmed this week.