Advocate says progress being made since B.C. child torture death, more work required

Winnipeg Free Press

15-07-2025

British Columbia's representative for children and youth says some progress is being made to improve the child welfare system, but she's concerned 'fiscal limitations' will prevent timely help from getting to those most in need.
Jennifer Charlesworth's statement comes a year after her report on the myriad of failures that ended in the death of an 11-year-old Indigenous boy who was tortured by extended family members who had been approved to care for him by the government.
Charlesworth credits the government with making progress on some of the recommended improvements that came out of the report, such as working toward a 'child well-being strategy and action plan.'
She says more needs to be done to support families — including basic income and housing support — and there is still not enough child welfare staff to meet demand.
A statement from the provincial government says multiple ministries are working on the action plan which will serve as the 'cornerstone' of the province's strategy to align services.
It says the government is working on a 'framework' that will include measurable ways to track children's well-being and that the Ministry of Children and Family Development is working on documentation guidelines for social workers.
The statement does not provide timelines for when the work will be complete.
'Every child in our province deserves safety, belonging and love, and we must do better,' Minister of Children and Family Development Jodie Wickens says in the statement.
'We are working with all our partners toward a renewed model of child well-being that focuses on prevention, care and supporting families before they find themselves in crisis.'
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 15, 2025