CAS rules out opposition

March 8, 2001 permalink

The Honourable John Baird
Minister of Community and Social Services
900 Bay Street MacDonald Block
Toronto Ontario M7A 1N3

Dear Mr Baird:

This concerns a proposed amendment to the bylaws of the
Dufferin Children's Aid Society.

Children's Aid Societies have the power to remove
children from their parents. This power may be used, as
envisioned in the law, to protect children, or may be
harm children by depriving them of good parents. A
vital protection ensuring beneficial use of these powers
is that Children's Aid Societies are subject to
community control. Any member of the community may join
for a nominal fee and vote for the board of directors,
and consequently for the management.

The Dufferin Children's Aid Society has recently
proposed a set of amendments to its bylaws that would
effectively eliminate community participation. A new
bylaw No 5 to be reviewed at a membership meeting on
March 20, 2001 will make the following changes:

1. Only the nominating committee (composed of
incumbents) will be able to nominate candidates for
director. Previously, any two members could make
such a nomination.

2. Anyone related by blood, marriage or adoption to a
person involved in any child-protection case or
investigation will be disqualified from the board of
directors, even if already in office.

3. The annual membership, previously fixed at three
dollars a year, is now at the discretion of the
board.

4. No member will be allowed to hold more than two
proxies.

The first provision above makes it impossible for
members of the community in opposition to Children's Aid
policies to participate in an effort to get those
policies changed. Is there any other kind of election
where candidates must have the approval of the
incumbents?

As for the second provision, the number of Children's
Aid cases in Dufferin is quite large, 1353 last year.
If most cases affect an extended family, it is possible
that a substantial proportion of the parents in Dufferin
could be disqualified by this provision - Dufferin only
has 45,655 people. Even worse, since it applies to
those already sitting on the board, management can
disqualify a board member at will simply by starting an
investigation of a member of his extended family. The
law envisions that the directors control the management,
not the other way around.

All residents of Dufferin can afford the three dollars a
year membership. The third provision to raise it at
will may allow the board to limit participation by
placing membership beyond the means of many residents.

The fourth provision, limiting proxies, will deprive a
large number of members of the ability to vote through
their chosen proxy-holder. Some cannot attend for lack
of means, others cannot attend simultaneously because of
legal restrictions imposed on them by Children's Aid
court actions.

Dufferin Children's Aid now has an active opposition, of
which I have been a part, and it appears that management
is using its powers to protect itself from community
influence. The Child and Family Services Act provides
that no bylaw shall come into effect until approved by
the Minister of Community and Social Services. For the
reasons stated above, I urge you to use your powers to
decline these bylaws when they reach your office for
approval.

Yours truly,



Robert T McQuaid
RR 5
Orangeville Ontario L9W 2Z2
phone: 519-942-0565
519-940-9847
email: rtmq@stn.net


Copies:
David Tilson, Member of Provincial Parliament Dufferin
Dalton McGuinty
Howard Hampton
Mark Van Horne, President of Dufferin Children's Aid
Orangeville Banner

(end of letter)

Addendum: In a discussion of this letter, the editor of the Orangeville Banner said that he can only publish letters on Children's Aid after getting the approval of Gary Putman.

Here is the undated notice of meeting mailed in the first week of March, 2001 :

DUFFERIN Child and Family Services Incorporated as the Children's Aid Society of the County of Dufferin

NOTICE

ALL MEMBERS OF THE CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY OF THE COUNTY OF DUFFERIN

There will be a special meeting of the membership to review Revised By-Law No 5: a by-law relating generally to the conduct of the affairs of The Children's Aid Society of the County of Dufferin

Date: Tuesday, March 20, 2001
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Monora Park Pavilion

Note:

A copy of the revised By-Law No 5 is enclosed for your review. We hope that members will attend this meeting, however if this is not possible and you wish to vote please complete the proxy vote form enclosed and follow the instructions as shown. Those eligible to vote must have obtained membership by the record date, February 1, 2001.

If you have any questions regarding this meeting please contact Irene Beazley at 519-941-1530, ext 225.

(end of notice)