Minister silent on action taken over children's aid scandal

Last Updated: Friday, December 1, 2006 | 5:10 PM ET

CBC News

Amid calls for the immediate firing of managers who misspent resources at children's aid societies in Ontario, the Minister of Children and Youth Services Mary Anne Chambers says action has already been taken. But she won't say what has been done.

"We have acted on everything we have heard to date from whatever source," Chambers told CBC. "Next week I'll be happy to provide you with specifics."

The final draft of a report by Ontario Attorney General Jim McCarter that was leaked to CBC News describes unchecked spending at certain children's aid societies on such things as luxury SUVs, exotic trips and gym memberships.

The value-for-money audit looked at four children's aid societies in Toronto, Peel Region, York Region and Thunder Bay.

Chamber has deflected an onslaught of questions and criticism since details of the draft were made public Thursday.

The minister has refused to comment about the report because it hasn't officially been released yet. The auditor is set to table it in the legislature Tuesday.

But demands are already raining in for the ministry to fire those responsible for misspent money.

"Are [executive directors of these societies] going to be held accountable?" asked retired homicide detective Michael Davis. "I don't know. I doubt it myself."

Davis has reviewed cases where children have died in the care of children's aid agencies across the province and found they lacked accountability.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union, which represents thousands of front-line child protection workers, agrees that any managers identified in the process of the audit who misspent resources should be immediately fired.

Children put at risk: report

Part of the report details how some of the most vulnerable children are not receiving attention fast enough.

One-third of children who should have a caseworker visit them within 12 hours or seven days, ended up waiting for three weeks on average, it says.

There has also been backlash from those who have gone through the children's aid system.

Seventeen-year-old Sarah, who has been in the care of the system for the last four years, said she was outraged by the news.

Lawyer Paul Miller was similarly annoyed. He is representing a client who is suing one of the agencies because of a son who was allegedly sexually assaulted while in the agency's care.

"When you hear about the extravagance of spending, that makes you think, 'Why aren't there more people working to protect these kids?' " questioned Miller.

The criticism has left some of those who work in the 53 children's aid societies across the province up in arms.

Melanie Persaud — a spokeswoman for one of the agencies audited, the Toronto Children's Aid Society — defended agencies, saying they are busier than ever with an increasing number of complicated cases.

"The cases get more and more complicated," said Persaud. "There's no such thing as a straightforward case anymore."