February 28, 2018
Committee recommends changes to the Representative for Children and Youth Act
VICTORIA – The all-party Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth presented its report on the review of the Representative for Children and Youth Act to the Legislative Assembly today.
The committee unanimously agreed that the Act is an effective framework for the work of the Representative for Children and Youth. The committee made a nine recommendations to strengthen the Act. Highlights of recommendations include
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Expanding the Representative for Children and Youth’s mandate to include advocacy for young adults who have previously been in care;
- Clarifying the Representative’s existing mandate with respect to advocating for children and young adults with special needs;
- Confirming that the Representative’s authority to monitor and oversee the child and youth-serving system includes reviewing certain internal government reviews of child welfare matters, and reviewing the provision of services referenced under the Act’s regulation; and
- Amending the section requiring the committee to review the Act every five years by removing language that refers to determining if the Representative’s functions are still required.
“Young adults who have been in care don’t always have an advocate to help them once they reach 19,” said committee chair, Nicholas Simons. “It makes sense to align the Representative’s advocacy mandate with programs and services designed to support young adults who have been in care.”
“The Office of the Representative for Children and Youth is playing a very valuable role in BC’s child and youth-serving system, as envisioned by the Honourable Ted Hughes,” added deputy chair, Michelle Stilwell. “The targeted amendments recommended by the committee would build on the Act’s strong foundation.”
The Representative for Children and Youth is an independent statutory officer of the Legislature. The Representative for Children and Youth Act sets out the mandate and powers of the Representative, and requires the committee to review the Act every five years. Further information about the committee, including its new report, is available at: https://www.leg.bc.ca/parliamentary-business/committees/41stparliament-3rdsession-cay
The members of the committee are:
Nicholas Simons, Chair, MLA Powell River-Sunshine Coast
Michelle Stilwell, Deputy Chair, MLA Parksville-Qualicum
Sonia Furstenau, MLA Cowichan Valley
Rick Glumac, MLA Port Moody-Coquitlam
Joan Isaacs, MLA Coquitlam-Burke Mountain
Jennifer Rice, MLA North Coast
Rachna Singh, MLA Surrey-Green Timbers
Laurie Throness, MLA Chilliwack-Kent
Teresa Wat, MLA Richmond North Centre
For further information:
Kate Ryan-Lloyd
Deputy Clerk and Clerk of Committees
Room 224, Parliament Buildings
Victoria, B.C., V8V 1X4
Telephone: 250 356-2933
Toll-free in BC: 1 877 428-8337
Email: ClerkComm@leg.bc.ca
