P.E.I. government votes against creating child advocate position

The Opposition vowed Wednesday to keep pressuring the P.E.I. government to create a child advocate position after its motion to create one was defeated in the House Tuesday night.

The government's decision goes against a recent inquest into the death of 4-year-old of Nash Campbell, which recommended P.E.I. establish a child advocate position. P.E.I. is the only province in Canada without a child advocate.

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"For the life of me I can't understand why the premier is stubbornly digging his heels in and refusing to address this critical recommendation," said Stratford-Kinlock MLA and Opposition health critic James Aylward, who brought forth the motion.

Child advocates often investigate concerns raised by childrenabout foster care, group homes, mental health services for youth and the education system. They also look out for the interests of children in difficult custody cases and similar situations where a child could be at risk

Addressing the motion Tuesday night, Premier Wade MacLauchlan said the government researched the roles of child advocates in other provinces and found that on P.E.I., many of those services were already being provided. He defended the government's decision again Wednesday.

"We've got the official guardian, the family law centre, we're considering the establishment of a children's lawyer, we have a hub model of four departments, the chief health officer is in place," MacLauchlan said. "What is in place is in the fullest sense delivering the service that would be provided by a child advocate."

But Aylward dismissed that notion Wednesday and promised to introduce another motion on it. He's also asked that the premier allow a free vote on the matter.

"There is deep concern out there that the services currently available to protect our children just simply are not enough," he said.

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