News May 29, 2014

Standing Committee on Government Operations Presents Report on Auditor General’s Findings on Child and Family Services

(YELLOWKNIFE) Thursday, May 29, 2014 – Today the Standing Committee on Government Operations presented its report in response to the Auditor General’s findings on child and family services. The Committee’s report contains 30 recommendations and is scheduled to be discussed in the House during the May/June sitting of the Legislative Assembly.

Michael Nadli, Chair of the Standing Committee, emphasizes that this is a critical juncture, “the Department must go beyond making minor adjustments and overhaul the entire system. It must assess resource needs, fix the accountability framework, improve standards and procedures, and provide better training to child protection workers.”

The Standing Committee on Government Operations discussed the Auditor General’s findings with Assistant Auditor General Ronnie Campbell and senior officials from the Department of Health and Social Services at a special meeting held April 23-24, 2014. During the proceedings, Deputy Minister Debbie DeLancey conceded there has been substantial failure in the delivery of child and family services. 

The Committee will closely monitor the Department’s next moves. Few improvements were made to the system following several earlier reports, including the Standing Committee on Social Programs’ 2010 review of the Child and Family Services Act. “Continued inaction is unacceptable. We intend to make sure the Department keeps its promises,” says Mr. Nadli.

To that end, the Standing Committee had further dialogue with the Honourable Glen Abernethy, Minister of Health and Social Services, on May 26, 2014. The Minister has promised to produce a comprehensive action plan by the end of June 2014, to conduct quarterly compliance audits on the regional authorities, and to develop system-wide performance indicators. 

For more information, contact: 

Michael Nadli, Chair
Standing Committee on Government Operations 
Legislative Assembly of the NWT 
P: 867-669-2268
Toll-free: 1-800-661-0784
E: michael_nadli@gov.nt.ca