NSNDP

September 11th, 2018

New NDP legislation would create provincial Child and Youth Advocate Office

Halifax -- Today the NDP Caucus will introduce legislation to create a Child and Youth Advocate in Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia is one of only three provinces without a dedicated, independent office to oversee youth issues.

“There are growing concerns about the ability of government to adequately meet the complex needs of children, whether in the education system, through foster care, or in accessing mental health services,” said Susan Leblanc, NDP spokesperson for Community Services. “An independent advocate would defend the rights of young people and ensure Nova Scotia’s children and youth have the same protection as their peers in other provinces.”

The Child and Youth Advocate Office would have a legislated mandate to conduct systematic policy review and advocacy, as well as taking on specific cases. Conversion therapy presentations in schools, citizenship for children in care, and access to autism services are all examples of issues a Child and Youth Advocate could intervene on.

“Children and youth need to have a voice in the political decisions that impact them,” said Alec Stratford, Executive Director of the College of Social Workers. “We’re one of the only provinces without this office and in other provinces we’ve seen important policy changes come about because of the work of the Child and Youth Advocate.”

The cost for creating this new Office is an estimated $4 million. The Advocate would report to the House of Assembly.

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