Jane Groenewegen

So, Health and Social Services has not been involved from the outset. I am a grandmother. I’m looking after my grandchildren. Can I go to social services and explain the situation to them and work collaboratively with them to ensure that I can afford to financially care for my grandchildren? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Saturnino. Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister Lafferty.

My experience has been that sometimes when family members step in, there is a sense in the department or with the child welfare worker that the problem has now been alleviated, it has been solved and the inclination is to step away from the situation and say, okay, the children are no longer at risk and therefore they are safe.

I would like to know if there is a process that allows family to be involved in that transition for those children. Quite often, child protection workers are seen as the enemy coming in to apprehend children and take them out of their home. I know there are very many...

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Minister Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. I didn’t really hear any questions there. Did you want to respond to that, Mr. Lafferty?

We all know that for children who are apprehended by the system it is a very big upheaval in their life, and ultimately, they may end up with family members or grandparents, but if there was a way to avert that apprehension process, and if it were possible for family members to work collaboratively with a social worker to ensure the best course and plan of care for the children in question, I think it would be a better system. No doubt, homes do need to have to be qualified regardless of whether they’re relatives or not, because we’ve heard the stories from southern Canada where grandparents...

Thank you, Minister Lafferty. Before we proceed with general comments, I’d like to ask the chair of the Standing Committee on Social Programs, Mr. Moses, if he would like to bring the committee’s remarks. Mr. Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Minister Lafferty.

Does committee agree?