Former Deputy Minister Appointed to Review Sexual Abuse Case

Following a damning B.C. Supreme Court ruling, the Ministry of Children and Family Development has asked former deputy minister Bob Plecas to lead an independent review into a sexual abuse case involving the ministry.

“I returned to government for two years in 1996 to lead the large re-organization that established the children’s ministry. Government had responded to recommendations from Judge Thomas Gove that arose from a very difficult child-protection case. We learned lessons, and implemented his recommendations. Twenty years later we have a critical judgement from Justice Walker on another child-protection case. The minister asked me to take an independent look at the actions, practices, standards and legislation that formed the backdrop to his highly critical comments. In this intense, short-term review I have been asked to consider that part of the child protection that involve private custody and access issues between parents, particularly where there are applications, proceedings or orders involving the provincial court and the Supreme Court. They believe lessons can be learned, and from critical comment good policy developed. I share that view,” said Plecas.

Plecas will work in conjunction with the Child Welfare League of Canada, who will recommend qualified policy experts and legal advisors to help assist in the review.

The review is scheduled to be completed by October 13th, 2015. To allow for a privacy review, it will be made public by October 21st, 2015.

According to the provincial government, the main goal of the review is to examine policy, practice, and provide recommendations as to where there are gaps in the system. The review is not intended to retry the court case, ensures the government.

“The vulnerable children who come into contact with our ministry, or who come into our care deserve our best each and every day. The recent judgment made many significant and disturbing assertions about staff conduct. We owe it to children, the public and to staff to seek out the truth in the most balanced and unbiased way possible,” said Stephanie Cadieux, Minister of Children and Family Development.

Plecas will be referencing the ministry’s interaction with the subject family, as well as the report of the child-welfare expert retained by the ministry in litigation.

The Supreme Court case in question involves three children who claimed that they were sexually assaulted by their father. The ministry failed to intervene for several years, suggesting that the allegations were fabricated.

From the court case between 2009 and 2012, Justice Paul Walker released a 341-page report detailing the negligence of agents who failed to assess and investigate the aforementioned reports of sexual abuse.

Any supervisory staff that might be directly impacted by the review will be re-assigned to an area of work that does not involve the same duties as those under revision.