Manitoba's minister of Child and Family Services says the federal government must shoulder some of the blame for the chaos in the province's child welfare system.

Gord Mackintosh said the province has increased the budget for the Office of the Children's Advocate to nearly $3 million, including money for three additional staff members.

'The federal government has got to make sure that they start investing in prevention resources on the reserves.'—Child and Family Services Minister Gord Mackintosh

But Ottawa has to step up too, he said.

"The federal government has got to make sure that they start investing in prevention resources on the reserves, which is where disproportionately children are coming into care," he said, noting 85 per cent of children in care are First Nations.

'State of chaos'

Manitoba's children's advocate has warned the province's child welfare system is "in a state of chaos."

A recent budget submission from the Office of the Children's Advocate points to high caseloads for social workers and a need for resources, sources who have seen the document said on Tuesday.

The written submission, which is being kept private, was made to a legislature committee that oversees the budget of the advocate's office and other independent bodies, such as the auditor general.

Manitoba Liberals have called on the government to make the document public, but Speaker George Hickes ruled last week that it must be kept private because it was for committee use only and contains personal information.

Caseloads overwhelming

Those who have seen the report, say it notes the number of children in care has ballooned to more than 8,600 from 6,600 in the last five years.

CBC News has some of the details of the report, which states social workers are quitting because they are overwhelmed with caseloads that are two-and-a-half times larger than they should be.

'I am every day reminded in this position and indeed, outraged everyday by what parents do to children and what parents can't do for children.'—Child and Family Services Minister Gord Mackintosh

Mackintosh said it's an emotional issue for everyone.

"I am every day reminded in this position and indeed, outraged everyday by what parents do to children and what parents can't do for children," he said.

The report cites the government's policy of placing aboriginal foster children in other aboriginal homes, saying many non-aboriginal foster parents are backing out because they are "terrified" aboriginal children will ultimately will be taken from them.

The Office of the Children's Advocate also claims requests for services have jumped by nearly 30 per cent in the last year and on any given day, 110 callers are waiting for a worker to call back.

Last year, the advocate sent out 38 high-risk notifications warning of imminent risk to children and there's a backlog of 169 cases needing to be investigated, according to the report.

The acting children's advocate has not immediately responded to CBC News' requests for an interview on the report.

Advocate takes leave

In May, the children's advocate left her post.

Billie Schibler, an outspoken critic of the Manitoba government when it came to children in care, took an indefinite leave with a year remaining on her term.

A spokesperson from her office said the leave is due to a family matter, but did not elaborate.