EDMONTON, AB: Wildrose has created a proposed set of parameters to create a Select Special Child Intervention Review Committee of the Legislative Assembly and will be asking for unanimous consent of the Legislature for the committee to be formally approved this afternoon, the Wildrose Official Opposition said.
Following questions in the Legislature from the Leader of the Progressive Conservatives and from the Wildrose caucus, it is clear that the NDP government agrees to the idea in principle of an all-party committee, but has not answered direct questions about the scope of the committee, and about whether front line workers or managers in children services that want to speak to the all-party committee would be given full whistleblower protections.
“The death of little Serenity while in care has clearly demonstrated that changes must be made to our current child intervention system,” Wildrose Leader Brian Jean said. “I know that all MLAs want to fix a broken system that is allowing children to be physically and sexually abused and in the most extreme of cases, die. We can and must do better.”
The terms of reference being proposed outline the parameters of a Select Special Committee, which would allow for reviews of key government departments and offices related to child intervention services in Alberta.
“It’s our sincere hope that the terms of reference for this committee will receive unanimous consent in the Legislature so that this important work can begin,” Wildrose Shadow Human Services Minister Angela Pitt said. “By creating a select special committee, we can ensure that this critical work will be a focus for all parties, and that we can offer concrete solutions to fix the system.”