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Pembroke Rally
August 1, 2013 permalink
A rally for accountability took place in Pembroke yesterday.
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LOCAL ADVOCATES FOR OVERSIGHT INTO CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETIES AND MUSH SECTOR HOLD RALLY IN PEMBROKE
click for larger imageA rally was held earlier today (Wed. July 31) in support of the Ontario Ombudsman having oversight into the actions of municipalities, universities, school boards, hospitals and Children's Aid Societies across the province. It was organized by Candace Villneff who has held rallies like this one over that last few years. This is just one of many rallies being held across the province pushing for support of Bill 93. Villneff says her and other advocates like her want the ombudsman to be able to take a look into issues like the deaths of foster children and how people are being treated in long-term care homes.
She adds that a lot of what the MUSH sector covers affects every single one of us at some point in our lives. As it stands right now the Ombudsman of Ontario's authority with respect to the MUSH sector is the most limited in Canada. Another rally by another group is being held on Friday (Aug. 2) at various locations throughout Pembroke.
Source: Pembroke Today
The story should have referred to bill 42 instead of 93.
Another report in the press.
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Support building for private member's bill to give Ontario Ombudsman purview over Children's Aid Societies 0
Candice Villeneuve stands in front of 77 Mary Street, the location of Family and Children’s Services in Pembroke. She and about a dozen others held a peaceful picket to show their support for a private member’s bill which would give the Ontario Ombudsman oversight over such agencies.stephen uhler stephen.uhler@sunmedia.caEfforts to build support for a private member’s bill to bring bodies such as Children’s Aid Societies under the scrutiny of the Ontario Ombudsman have reached Pembroke.
If passed, the Ombudsman Amendment Act would give the provincial watchdog oversight into the functions of agencies such as Family and Children’s Services, municipalities, universities, schools, and hospitals, (often called the MUSH sector), as well as police services and long- term care homes.
On Wednesday, nearly a dozen people assembled outside the FCS offices on 77 Mary Street to bring attention to this effort to bring oversight and accountability into the conduct of such agencies.
Candice Villeneuve, who organized the picket, said she wanted to bring more of a focus on the importance of how children will benefit from the Ombudsman oversight bill in a respectful and quiet way.
“This is about informing the people of Pembroke about it,” she said, and explaining why it is so important to get some oversight over these agencies.
“This affects all of us personally.”
Villeneuve said there are a lot of places within the MUSH sector which hit home for her, including the school board and FCS, as well as long-term care homes.
“These all touch me personally,” she said, so it is important to her this bill passes.
“If that means holding signs all day, I will.”
Villeneuve said she knows FSC workers are overworked and stretched thin with their caseloads, but feels the system should be rebuilt, adding more people, more training, more services and more programs for parents, especially those who are just starting out and may be running into problems.
A larger rally, organized by Canada Court Watch, is being held in front of the Pembroke Courthouse on Friday around noon, and is also in support of the private member’s bill. The group has been at the forefront of public protests and a campaign to demand greater accountability into the conduct and operation of Children’s Aid Societies and their employees.
Source: Pembroke Daily Observer
