The Ministry of Children and Family Development is under fire once again, following the tragic death of 18-year-old Alex Gervais.
Gervais fell to his death on Friday, September 18th, from a hotel window in Abbotsford.
Following Gervais' death, the Representative for Children and Youth questioned the ministry, as to the reason why the 18-year-old was being housed at a hotel in the first place.
If Ministry says children in care aren't supposed to be housed in hotel rooms, then why are they?
— RCYBC (@RCYBC) September 23, 2015
In an email statement to KelownaNow.com, Minister Stephanie Cadieux voiced her concern regarding Gervais’ death, reiterating that housing foster children in a hotel is not common practice.
“Hotels are only to be used in rare occurrences, and for as briefly as possible, in between or prior to other more appropriate placements. These arrangements must be signed off by a designated director and reported to the Provincial Director of Child Welfare.”
The ministry said they will be looking into this issue.
“The Provincial Director of Child Welfare is again reaching out to all Service Delivery Areas and Delegated Aboriginal Agencies to remind of this policy, confirm what we’ve heard so far and to get a clearer picture of the current situation,” said Minister Cadieux.
KelownaNow.com has reached out to Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, BC Representative for Children and Youth, and are now awaiting a response.
A remembrance Facebook page has been established in Gervais' honour.
Back in July, the ministry was slammed for failing to investigate allegations of sexual assault.
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