Children by virtue of their vulnerability require special safeguards to ensure their protection, care and well-being. Their right to this is enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), a convention that has been in existence since 1989 and ratified by Canada since 1991.

This investigation was called after the Child and Youth Advocate received information regarding the maltreatment of two young children. These children were in the care and custody of another province but had been placed in a home in Newfoundland and Labrador where they resided for nearly two years.

When young people are placed in alternative living arrangements, the UNCRC is clear that they have the right to special care, protection, monitoring, as well as the right to decisions being made in their best interests.

These rights become even more critical if a child must be moved between provinces and government systems. There is an obligation for oversight and accountability to be shared and for regular and consistent communication between jurisdictions. When communication is inconsistent or inadequate the potential for harm to children and youth is inevitable.

The recommendations presented in this report call for stronger provisions, monitoring, and expectations between provinces. The safety, well-being, and rights of children depend on systems getting it right and “not letting children fall off the radar”.

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