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Child Advocacy Renewal in Ontario
The Bill Establishing an Independent Child and Youth Advocate in Ontario Becomes Law
The Ontario government has passed a bill to establish a provincial advocate for children and youth. On November 30, 2006 Children and Youth Services Minister Mary Anne Chambers introduced Bill 165, the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth Act, 2007.
The Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth Act, 2007 received royal assent and is now in force.
Read the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth Act, 2007:
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Agnes Samler is Ontario's First Independent Advocate for Children and Youth
DCI-Canada is pleased to announce that the Government of Ontario has appointed Agnes Samler as the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth. Agnes Samler is Ontario’s first independent Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth, reporting directly to the Legislature. She will hold this position on an interim basis until the Legislature identifies a new Provincial Advocate through an all-party committee.
For more information, visit the web site of Ontario's Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth: www.provincialadvocate.on.ca
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Resource Page
DCI-Canada is a leader in the movement to create an independent Child and Youth Advocate in Ontario. To learn more about this issue or to get involved refer to the resources below.
Questions? Contact Matthew Geigen-Miller, a DCI-Canada board member and our lead researcher on this issue. Matthew may be reached by e-mail: matthew@dci-canada.org.
Our Position on Bill 165
DCI-Canada supports the passage of legislation to establish an independent Child and Youth Advocate in Ontario. We also support improvement of Bill 165 in committee. Our position paper recommends 11 amendments to the bill. We are committed to working with all parties in the Legislature to ensure that Ontario gets the strongest and most effective Child and Youth Advocate possible.
DCI-Canada has released a position paper on Bill 165:
Position on Bill 165: Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth Act (PDF)
Executive Summary (PDF)
Hearing from Affected Young People During the Committee Study
DCI-Canada promotes children's right to be heard when decisions are made that will affect them, in accordance with Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. On April 2, 2007, DCI-Canada submitted a paper to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy regarding the Committee's study of Bill 165. This paper makes six recommendations aimed at ensuring that the Committee's study of Bill 165 respects the child's right to be heard.
Method of Proceeding on Bill 165: Submission to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy (PDF)
Our Position on the Need for New Legislation
In October 2006, DCI-Canada wrote to all Ontario MPP's, urging them to ensure that Premier Dalton McGuinty keeps his promise to create an independent Child and Youth Advocate.
Letter to Premier Dalton McGuinty (HTML)
Letter to Ontario MPP's (HTML)
In June 2006, DCI-Canada released Child Advocacy Renewal in Ontario, a position paper dealing with the need for new legislation to establish an independent Child and Youth Advocate.
Child Advocacy Renewal in Ontario (PDF)
In June 2003, DCI-Canada released the report, It's Time to Break the Silence, which examines the powers, functions and independence of Ontario's Office of Child and Family Service Advocacy. The report concludes that the Ontario government should pass legislation to establish an independent Child and Youth Advocate.
It's Time to Break the Silence (PDF)
Background Resources (in reverse chronological order)
Submissions to the Standing Committee on Justice Policy. DCI-Canada, represented by Agnes Samler (President) and Matthew Geigen-Miller (Board Member), appeared before the Standing Committee on Justice Policy to make submissions on Bill 165. Read it (HTML)
View the Hansard transcripts for all debates and presentations made in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario regarding Bill 165. Read it (HTML)
Position on Bill 165: Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth Act. DCI-Canada released this position paper in March 2007. The paper recommends 11 amendments to Bill 165. Read it (PDF)
Commentary in Toronto Star, November 20, 2006. Cathy Vine, Executive Director of Voices for Children, wrote a commentary article arguing in favour of the creation of an independent Child and Youth Advocate in Ontario. The article was published in the Toronto Star, and on the Voices for Children web site. Read it (HTML)
Child Advocacy Renewal in Ontario. DCI-Canada released this report in June 2006. The report tracks the government's progress in keeping its promise to create an independent Child and Youth Advocate, and concludes that the government must make the creation of an independent Child and Youth Advocate a priority. Read it (PDF)
Youth Participation Proposal. DCI-Canada submitted this proposal to Minister of Children and Youth Services Marie Bountrogianni in March 2005. In the proposal we argue that there was insufficient child and youth participation in the Ministry's study of child advocacy services in Ontario, and we propose a consultation with young people who have experience in government care. Read it (PDF)
A New Model for Child & Youth Advocacy in Ontario. This is the final report from the independent review of the Office of Child and Family Service Advocacy. Whitehead Research Consultants Ltd. submitted this report to the Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS) in August 2004. MCYS released the report to the public in March 2005. Read it (PDF)
Ministry of Children and Youth Services News Release. The Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS) issued this news release on March 8, 2005. Read it (HTML)
Ontario Liberal Party News Release. The Ontario Liberal Party issued this news release on July 9, 2003. In the news release, then-Opposition Leader Dalton McGuinty promises that a future Liberal government will pass legislation to create an independent Child and Youth Advocate. Read it (HTML)
It's Time to Break the Silence. DCI-Canada released this report in June 2003. The report compares Ontario's Advocacy Office with similar offices in other provinces in Canada, and concludes that Ontario's Advocacy Office is granted insufficient independence, resources and powers in comparison with other provinces. The report recommends legislation to establish an independent Child and Youth Advocate. Read it (PDF)
Chronic under-funding and neglect put Ontario's Child Advocacy Office in last place within Canada: Report. DCI-Canada's issued this news release in June 2003. Read it (HTML)
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