The NDP government is poised to introduce a bill compelling the Children's Advocate to appear annually before a legislative committee to answer questions about the state of child welfare in Manitoba.

Family Services Minister Gord Mackintosh announced the proposed change on Thursday after a private report from the advocate's office leaked into the public domain on Wednesday proclaiming a "state of crisis" within the provincial child-welfare system.

"Currently, the children's advocate files an annual report that is made public," Mackintosh said in a statement.

"By giving the advocate a chance to talk about the office's annual work and related issues in public, all Manitobans will have a better insight into the deep-seated challenges and the accomplishments of the child-welfare system," he said.

The government has been under fire for not granting a request by the Opposition to have the advocate appear to answer questions about the leaked report, which was tabled at a legislative committee overseeing the budget of the advocate's office and other independent bodies, such as the auditor general.

It was meant to be kept private, but Liberal MLA Kevin Lamoureux, who sits on the budget committee, forwarded it to the media.

"The first two pages of this report far, far outweigh the necessity of keeping it in a closed room," he told CBC News.

Caseloads growing

The report notes the number of children in care has ballooned to more than 8,600 from 6,600 in the last five years.

It also states social workers are quitting because they are overwhelmed with caseloads that are two-and-a-half times larger than they should be.

It also 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 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.

The acting children's advocate, Bonnie Kocsis, has not commented publicly on the report's findings.

Office without permanent boss

The office has been without a permanent leader since May, when Billie Schibler left her post on indefinite leave. Schibler was an outspoken critic of the government when it came to issues facing children in care.

Her term in office is slated to expire next April.

Mackintosh said an all-party committee will soon be struck to discuss potential candidates to replace Schibler.

He also defended the government's past responses to the advocate's stated concerns, saying since 2006, the child welfare system has seen its funding boosted by $112 million.

He added that the advocate's office has also seen its annual budget increase by more than $2 million in the last decade. The office now had triple the number of staff than it did in 2000, Mackintosh said.