This week a group of reporters from Global News and APTN released a report on the life of children in care – particularly those living in group homes. Shout out to journalists Ken Jackson and Carolyn Jarvis.
The report is harrowing. I encourage you to find the courage to watch it and not turn away.
https://globalnews.ca/video/8876331/kids-may-not-be-safe-in-ontarios-child-welfare-system
It is so very important to remember that in every Provincial election we elect a government that will act as the “parent” to on any given night 13,000 children in care. There is absolutely no doubt, none, that on behalf of all of us our successive Liberal and Conservative governments have failed our children. We bring children into our care, promise them love and security and then fail them. It’s that simple. What could be more telling than a broken promise to a child in need?
This must end.
We may hear from the Liberals that they did some “good things”. Perhaps but their quick win strategy was always predicated on “putting out fires” – issue management and little else. There is no other way to explain a 7 year plan to reform group homes described in the report from Global/APTN. 7 years!
The current government consumed by a fixation with business friends and money have done nothing. Nothing. We have had system transformations, modernizations, reforms, strategies, plans and perhaps in another 2 years a redesign. Nothing.
Yes Im angry and you should be too. Now will an NDP government make a difference in the lives of children in care? I hear you asking. I hope so. It is what I am fighting for. I can tell you the NDP is the only Party that specifically is in existence for the purpose of furthering the well being of people. The two other Parties exist for no other purpose than to be elected.
I refuse to give up hope if we ask children in care not to. And besides action is the antidote to despair