Regulation of child protection workers by Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers: CUPE responds. Please send or adapt any of the following letters to the Executive Director of your CAS.

Powerful as God: The Children's Aid Societies of Ontario (2011) 1h 16min | Documentary, Crime.

Powerful As God - The Children's Aid Societies of Ontario is a documentary that delves into society's most controversial and secretive topics. The film navigates 'truth' by engaging twenty-six witnesses with diverse experiences into conversation. By facilitating a voice for individuals whose lives have been tragically affected, with observations and recommendations by experts who have worked directly with the agency (such as doctors, social workers and lawyers), the film reveals a child welfare system plagued by systemic and bureaucratic abuse that urgently requires public attention. Financed by tax dollars and wielding extraordinary power, the Children's Aid Society is deconstructed to reveal a broken system where employees have been heard to describe their influence over children and families to be as powerful as god.

This documentary was fantastically done as it reveals the real truth behind the Children's Aid Societies of Ontario. The corruption and greed within an agency that is there "to assist children and families" is despicable. There needs to be some oversight of this agency in order for it to serve its purpose. That accountability will come once the Ombudsman of Ontario is allowed to investigate complaints from families that have been given a raw deal by them. Also these workers from these agencies are not registered with the Ontario College of Social Worker's yet practise social work everyday. Please watch this documentary if you have children or are planning on having children.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2234353/

WHY DON'T THE RIGHTS AND BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD INCLUDE QUALIFIED, REGISTERED AND FULLY ACCOUNTABLE CHILD WELFARE WORKERS (WHO LIVE IN FEAR OF MAKING A MISTAKE OR INTENTIONALLY HARMING A CHILD LIKE ALL THE OTHER PROFESSIONALS WHO WORK CLOSELY WITH CHILDREN)?

Regulation of child protection workers by Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers: CUPE responds.

Please send or adapt any of the following letters to the Executive Director of your CAS.

Drafts 1 through 10. Pick the one you like best..

Here's some examples:

DRAFT Letter 2 – Professionalism

I understand that there are plans in the works to force anyone who works in child protection to register with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.

One of the reasons given for this change is that regulation will result in higher quality services and bring greater professionalism to the field and that this will improve the standard of child protection work in Ontario.

I would like to point out that a failure to meet standards of care in child protection work is very rarely the result of professional misconduct, incompetence or incapacity on the part of individual child protection workers.

(ACCORDING TO WHO? THE CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY'S SECRET INTERNAL COMPLAINT PROCESS?)

The stated purpose of the College is to protect the public from unqualified, incompetent or unfit practitioners.

But children’s aid societies already set those standards and ensure their adherence: they determine the job qualifications. They deal with employees they deem to be unqualified or incompetent. And CASs decide whether child protection work in their area can be performed by someone who holds a Bachelor’s degree and has child welfare experience.

I may not hold a BSW or MSW degree, enjoy membership in the College or be subject to its regulation. But I am a professional practitioner in the child protection sector and, as such, I cannot countenance this move toward the regulation of the child protection workforce. I am resolved to fight it at every step of the way and instead campaign for the measures that will bring real benefits to at-risk youth, children and families.

Sincerely,

DRAFT Letter 6 – Privacy and discipline

The move toward a regulated child protection workforce in Ontario gives me cause for serious concern about my privacy as a child protection worker.

One of the rationalizations for registration and regulation with the College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers is the restoration of public confidence in Ontario’s child protection system.

But violating my rights to privacy and confidentiality will do nothing to achieve this goal.

What right to privacy?

A person employed by or acting as an agent for another person, private agency or government is not on their own time and have no right to privacy PERSONAL OR OTHERWISE.

http://cupe2190.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/SSWCC_CAS-letters-re-college-regulation_Nov.-2016.pdf

Why does the children's aid society have a problem with professional regulation?

The children's aid society claim if they were suddenly forced to obey the Social Work and Social Service Work Act, 1998, SO 1998 Ontario.ca - as many as 30% of their current workforce wouldn't be qualified to register with the college though others put the number closer to somewhere between 50 and 70% of their current workforce wouldn't be qualified to register at the time they were hired to work with children. The unionized workers claim these workers have in some cases decades of on the job experience who would lose their jobs which wouldn't be fair to them and screw the best interest of the child coming first despite all the damage they've already done with their godlike "special powers" they've become so accustomed to.

PROTECTIONS FOR CUPE MEMBERS AND NONE FOR IMPOVERISHED CANADIAN FAMILIES.

Luckily, many CUPE members ((who were actually qualified when they were hired)) have protections against unilateral changes to work qualifications in their collective agreements. The report notes that at least seven collective agreements have language against mandatory professional regulation and the Provincial Discussion Table language ensures that any changes to qualifications are grandparented-in with no current staff affected. If the employers are moving forward with professional regulation, it’s likely they will bring this issue to the next round of collective bargaining so CUPE members will have to be prepared.

The report also notes that the “clearest path forward” would be for the provincial government to legislate the necessity of professional regulation, which would be an appallingly heavy-handed move.

AND DRAGGING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES THROUGH THE FAMILY COURTS WASN'T HEAVY-HANDED?

http://joincupe2190.ca/files/2015/10/Professional-regulation-at-childrens-aid-societies.pdf

Since it began operations in 2000, the OCSWSSW has worked steadily and completely unseen to silently address the issue of child protection workers.

Unfortunately, many CASs have been circumventing professional regulation of their staff by requiring that staff have social work education yet discouraging those same staff from registering with the OCSWSSW.

The new regulation was updated to only require Local Directors of Children’s Aid Societies to be registered with the College.

The majority of local directors, supervisors, child protection workers and adoption workers have social work or social service work education, yet fewer than 10% are registered with the OCSWSSW.

The existing regulations made under the CFSA predated the regulation of social work and social service work in Ontario and therefore their focus on the credential was understandable.

However, today a credential focus is neither reasonable nor defensible. Social work and social service work are regulated professions in Ontario.

A "social worker" or a "social service worker" is by law someone who is registered with the OCSWSSW. Furthermore, as noted previously, the Ontario public has a right to assume that when they receive services that are provided by someone who is required to have a social work degree (or a social service work diploma), that person is registered with the OCSWSSW.

The OCSWSSW also has processes for equivalency, permitting those with a combination of academic qualifications and experience performing the role of a social worker or social service worker to register with the College.

These processes address, among other things, the risk posed by "fake degrees" and other misrepresentations of qualifications, ensuring Ontarians know that a registered social worker or social service worker has the education and/or experience to do their job. The review of academic credentials and knowledge regarding academic programs is an area of expertise of a professional regulatory body. An individual employer will not have the depth of experience with assessing the validity of academic credentials nor the knowledge of academic institutions to be able to uncover false credentials or misrepresentations of qualifications on a reliable basis.

Setting, maintaining and holding members accountable to the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. These minimum standards apply to all OCSWSSW members, regardless of the areas or context in which they practise. Especially relevant in the child welfare context are principles that address confidentiality and privacy, competence and integrity, record-keeping, and sexual misconduct.

Maintaining fair and rigorous complaints and discipline processes. These processes differ from government oversight systems and process-oriented mechanisms within child welfare, as well as those put in place by individual employers like a CAS. They focus on the conduct of individual professionals.

Furthermore, transparency regarding referrals of allegations of misconduct and discipline findings and sanctions ensures that a person cannot move from employer to employer when there is an allegation referred to a hearing or a finding after a discipline hearing that their practice does not meet minimum standards.

If you have any practice questions or concerns related to the new CYFSA, please contact the Professional Practice Department at 416-972-9882 or 1-877-828-9380 or email practice@ocswssw.org.

Submission-re-Proposed-Regulations-under-the-CYFSA-January-25-2018. OCSWSSW May 1, 2018

https://www.ocswssw.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/OCSWSSW-Submission-re-Proposed-Regulations-under-the-CYFSA-January-25-2018.pdf

Mary Ballantyne, CEO of Ontario's Association of Children's Aid Societies academic credentials include and are limited to a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Guelph and a Masters of Industrial Relations – Human Resource Management from Queens University.

Mary Ballantyne CEO of OACAS says, the next step is to have Ontario's estimated 5,160 child protection social workers registered and regulated by a professional college. Fifty-five per cent have a bachelor's (BSW) or master's degree in social work. A BSW is the minimum required to join the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, which is discussing the registration process with societies. Apr 03, 2016.

"It is unclear what additional role college registration would provide" says Her Royal Majesty Mary Ballantyne the First, Defender of the Children, CEO of OACAS, Master of Human Industrial Relations/Science and Member of the PDRC. Toronto Star.

http://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/sites/default/files/content/mcscs/images/195633-19.jpg

In January 2017, the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS) launched a revamped set of curriculum for Ontario’s child protection workers. The Child Welfare Pathway to Authorization Series is designed to be more responsive and better reflect the realities of child welfare work in Ontario using an anti-oppressive framework other than the Constitution, Charter of Right and Fundamental Justice. New training will cover topics such as equity, human rights, and anti-racism.

What kind of social workers need human rights training?

2013: Nancy Simone, a president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees local representing 275 workers at the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, argued child protection workers already have levels of oversight that include unregistered unqualified workplace supervisors, family court judges, coroners’ inquests and annual case audits by the ministry and the union representing child protection workers is firmly opposed to ethical oversight from a professional college, and the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, which regulates and funds child protection, is so far staying out of the fight.. Nancy Simone says, “Our work is already regulated to death.”

How do you feel about child protection social workers taking off their lanyards and putting on their union pins to fight against professional regulation?

ONTARIO HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.

Under suspicion: Concerns about child welfare.

http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/under-suspicion-concerns-about-child-welfare

To file a human rights claim (called an application), contact the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario at:

If you need legal help, contact the Human Rights Legal Support Centre at:

Toll Free: 1-866-625-5179

TTY Toll Free: 1-866-612-8627

Website: www.hrlsc.on.ca

2013: In leaked memo, Peel CAS staff asked to keep cases open to retain funding.

March is the end of the fiscal year for the agency and in the memo staff are instructed to complete as many investigations as possible (no fewer than 1,000), transfer as many cases as possible to “ongoing services,” and not close any ongoing cases during March.

Back in 2013 the children's aid society claimed there was a province wide funding shortfall of $67 million dollars and decided the best way to deal with that was to act in bad faith and defraud the government out of the taxpayers money by adding as many cases to ongoing services as they could, up to 1000 if possible (per society?)

The internal memo, signed by seven senior service managers, instructs staff to complete as many investigations as possible (no fewer than 1,000), transfer as many cases as possible to “ongoing services,” and not close any ongoing cases before the end of the fiscal year, March 31.

The memo indicated that these "unethical strategies" were necessary to reduce the society’s current deficit and secure future funding from the province.

Between 2011 and 2013 the 46 separate societies opened a combined total of 42 000 files or about 14 000 files per year, in 2014 - after the Peel memo leak (see link above) - and after reopening 20 000 previously closed files the societies opened a combined total of over 82 000 files to meet their funding goals as reported by the Toronto Star.

“Wrongly opening or leaving files open can have a damaging impact on children's’ lives."

"No one should be surprised that agencies like Peel CAS are taking extreme steps to ensure they have the funding necessary to fulfill their legislated mandates to protect children,” said Carrie Lynn Poole-Cotnam, 2013 Chair of the CUPE Ontario Social Services sector. "

"No one should be surprised the society was so willing to violate their mandate?" - With the society's reputation HAS a truer thing ever been said? (might be the only true thing CUPE has ever said) but it is probably the first time anyone has gotten away with attempted fraud by called it just an extreme step.

2016: Report shines light on poverty’s role on kids in CAS system.

The effect of provincial policies on struggling families was especially apparent in the late 1990s, when the conservative government slashed welfare payments and social service funding at the same time it introduced in child protection the notion of maltreatment by “omission,” including not having enough food in the home. The number of children taken into care spiked.

A new report cites poverty as a key factor in families who come into contact with the child protection system.

“We’re able to tell a story of maltreatment, but we have not done a very good job in telling a story about poverty,” Goodman said, referring to Ontario’s 47 privately run children’s aid societies.

Goodman suggests silence suited the provincial government more than it suited the society's funding goals, in particular the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, which regulates child protection and funds societies with $1.5 billion annually.

On average, 15,625 Ontario children were in foster or group-home care in 2014-15. The latest figures indicate if your still willing to blindly take the society's word for it that only 2 percent of children are removed from their home due to sexual abuse and 13 percent for physical abuse. The rest are removed because of neglect, emotional maltreatment and exposure to violence between their parents or caregivers.

“The ministry has been pretty clear with us that advocacy is not part of our mandate,” Goodman said. “It’s not like they’re asking for the (poverty) data. They’re not.”

The poverty removal rates were extracted from the government-funded Ontario Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect, compiled in 2013. A team of researchers examined a representative sample of 4,961 child protection investigations conducted by 17 children’s aid societies. The cases involved children up to 14.

Co-author Kofi Antwi-Boasiako, a PhD student at the University of Toronto’s faculty of social work, will be expanding the report into a full-fledged study.

Goodman credited the report with revealing “the elephant in the room.” Children’s aid societies have long witnessed the grinding effect of poverty on families but have rarely spoken out about it or pressured policy makers.

https://www.ourwindsor.ca/news-story/6810640-report-shines-light-on-poverty-s-role-on-kids-in-cas-system/

Social assistance cuts likely to get worse.

By ALEXI WHITE Opinion Sun., Aug. 5, 2018.

WILL THESE CUTS BE ANOTHER BIG PAYDAY FOR THE CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY?

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2018/08/05/social-assistance-cuts-likely-to-get-worse.html

Silenced, discredited, stripped of powers of moral appeal, and deprived of the interpersonal conditions necessary for maintaining self-respect and labeled "disgruntled" many people suffer from serious but subtle forms of oppression involving neither physical violence nor the use of law.

Motherisk hair test evidence tossed out of Colorado court 2 decades before questions raised in Canada.

For more than two decades, Motherisk performed flawed hair-strand tests on thousands of vulnerable families across Canada, influencing decisions in child protection cases that separated parents from their children and sometimes children from their siblings. (CBC)

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/motherisk-colorado-court-case-1.4364862

A Motherisk expert testified for the defence in a Colorado murder case. The judge mocked the lab’s processes. But the case remained virtually unknown in Ontario until now.

http://projects.thestar.com/motherisk/part-2/

Judge rejects proposed class-action over Motherisk drug-testing scandal.

By RACHEL MENDLESON Investigative Reporter. Thu., Nov. 2, 2017.

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/11/02/judge-rejects-proposed-class-action-over-motherisk-drug-testing-scandal.html

Parents lose second bid to launch class-action suit against Motherisk over flawed hair tests.

By RACHEL MENDLESON Investigative Reporter. Tues., Nov. 27, 2018.

Despite the “knee-jerk denials” of Motherisk experts and the Hospital for Sick Children, it wouldn’t be hard to prove in court that the lab’s drug and alcohol hair tests were broadly unreliable. However, establishing this fact wouldn't advance individual cases enough to make a national class-action lawsuit the right approach for thousands of families seeking compensation.

https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/2018/11/27/parents-lose-second-bid-to-launch-class-action-suit-against-motherisk-over-flawed-hair-tests.html

The GONE theory holds that Greed, Opportunity, Need and the Expectation of not being caught are what lay the groundwork for fraud. Greed and/or need provides the motive.

Former Privacy Commissioner Ann Cavoukian wrote:

“I am disheartened by the complete lack of action to ensure transparency and accountability by these organizations that received significant public funding. As part of the modernization of the Acts, I call on the government to finally address this glaring omission and ensure that Children’s Aid Societies are added to the list of institutions covered.”

The only oversight for the province’s children’s aid agencies comes from Ontario’s Ministry of Children and Youth Services.

"As the law stands now clients of the Ontario Children's Aid Society under Wynne's liberals are routinely denied a timely (often heavily censored) file disclosure before the court begins making decisions and the clients can not request files/disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act nor can censored information reviewed by the Privacy Commissioner of Ontario or the federal counterpart."

(The Motherisk Commission details years of rights infringements by courts. "If the same problems were identified in criminal court, there would be a huge public outcry." Tammy Law.)

In her 2004 annual report, which was released on June 22, 2005, the Commissioner called for amendments that would bring virtually all organizations that are primarily funded by government dollars under FOI for the purposes of transparency and accountability: This would include the various children’s aid agencies in the Province of Ontario. Many parents and families complain about how difficult it is, if not impossible, to obtain information from children’s aid agencies. Many citizens complain that CAS agencies appear to operate under a veil of secrecy. Unlicensed and untrained CAS workers are making decisions which are literally destroying families, yet there is little or no accountability for their actions short of a lawsuit after the damage has been done.

In her annual report for 2013 released on June 17 there is just one paragraph on children's aid on page 12:

In my 2004, 2009, and 2012 Annual Reports I recommended that Children’s Aid Societies, which provide services for some of our most vulnerable citizens – children and youth in government care, be brought under FIPPA. I am disheartened by the complete lack of action to ensure transparency and accountability by these organizations that received significant public funding. As part of the modernization of the Acts, I call on the government to finally address this glaring omission and ensure that Children’s Aid Societies are added to the list of institutions covered.

The Information and Privacy Commissioner is appointed by and reports to the Ontario Legislative Assembly, and is independent of the government of the day. The Commissioner's mandate includes overseeing the access and privacy provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, and the Personal Health Information Protection Act, and commenting on other access and privacy issues.

“Hundreds of organizations that are recipients of large transfer payments from the government are not subject to the provincial or municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Acts,” said the Commissioner, “which means they are not subject to public scrutiny.” Among the examples she cites are hospitals and Children’s Aid Societies. “Openness and transparency of all publicly funded bodies is essential – they should be publicly accountable.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/beef-up-information-laws-ontario-privacy-czar-says/article1120573/

http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/commissioner-cavoukian-calls-on-government-to-preserve-freedom-and-liberty-514463911.html

DEFINITION of 'Protected Cell Company (PCC)

A corporate structure in which a single legal entity is comprised of a core and several cells that have separate assets and liabilities. The protected cell company, or PCC, has a similar design to a hub and spoke, with the central core organization linked to individual cells. Each cell is independent of each other and of the company’s core, but the entire unit is still a single legal entity.

BREAKING DOWN 'Protected Cell Company (PCC)

A protected cell company operates with two distinct groups: a single core company and an unlimited number of cells. It is governed by a single board of directors, which is responsible for the management of the PCC as a whole. Each cell is managed by a committee or similar group, with authority to the committee being granted by the PCC board of directors. A PCC files a single annual return to regulators, though business and operational plans of each cell may still require individual review and approval by regulators.

Cells within the PCC are formed under the authority of the board of directors, who are typically able to create new cells as business needs arise. The articles of incorporation provide the guidelines that the directors must follow.

The ministry is not contemplating amalgamation, said MacCharles, and is instead choosing to focus on a shared services approach.

The current hierarchical corporate structures that dominate our economies have been in place for over 200 years and were notably supported and defined by Max Weber during the 1800s. Even though Weber was considered a champion of bureaucracy, he understood and articulated the dangers of bureaucratic organisations as stifling, impersonal, formal, protectionist and a threat to individual freedom, equality and cultural vitality.

CAS actions are shrouded in secrecy, and media investigations are chilled by CAS (a multi-billion dollar private corporation) lawyers, who claim to be protecting the privacy rights of all involved.

Tammy Law's delusional thoughts, excuses, rationalizations and justifications for using the Motherisk test to justify denying parents due process and circumventing the Constitution, the Charter of Rights and the principles of fundamental Justice behind the closed doors of Ontario's family courts. :::

I want to be clear about what I think some of the fundamental problems are and how I think we can start to change this system. Because I am first and foremost a lawyer, my thoughts naturally focus on the role of lawyers in this mess. My thoughts are summarized as follows:

As lawyers, we need to recognize that good intentions are not enough. It is really easy to hide behind “the best interests of the child” and agree or acquiesce to all types of infringements of our clients’ basic human and Charter rights. This needs to stop. Lawyers need to start seeing their role in the context of defending our clients’ very real rights to human dignity and security of the person.

The culture of cooperation has gone too far. While I agree that it is very very important to work with the Children’s Aid Society to address their concerns, a line must be drawn when they demand cooperation that crosses the line. As a state agent, the Society has an obligation to ensure that it works in the most minimally intrusive way possible – respecting the client’s right to individual freedom while trying to ensure that its clients are served. This is a difficult job. Lawyers and courts should be there to ensure that the fine line is respected.

Society counsel need to understand that they have a public interest role. They should be providing advice to their clients in the context of being a public interest litigant. They have a duty to the court to be fair. This means that if unreliable evidence is being tendered (and there were many signs of this with respect to the Motherisk testing), they should be advising their clients about the unfairness of relying on it. Lawyers are and should be gatekeepers of evidence as much as courts are.

We need to be more vigilant. As noted in the report, our role as advocates is to raise every defense possible for our clients.

HOW ABOUT PRESENTING EVIDENCE THAT COUNTERS SWORN AFFIDAVITS WHEN CLIENTS HAVE IT IN ABUNDANCE - JUST SAYIN'..

Our clients are often extremely vulnerable, having lived lives that were challenged by multiple obstacles.

SO LAWYERS FAILING TO REPRESENT THEIR CLIENTS ISN'T JUST ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE OBSTACLES???

Many have made admirable attempts to parent their children. We need to be fearless in our advocacy for them. As a lawyer, I have experienced and seen derisive, sarcastic, or rude comments directed at myself and other lawyers who attempt to defend their clients. This needs to stop. It’s our client’s right – their children’s right – that they have a full defence.

http://www.tammylaw.ca/…/report-of-the-motherisk-commission/

We all want to believe that nonprofit corporations like the children's aid society are full of hard-working people committed to improving society. But even the most well-meaning nonprofits can get into financial hot water.

Unfortunately the temptation to cover up financial problems can be particularly seductive for nonprofit CAS managers who have spent money like politicians with an expense account and no spending oversight for decades.

CAS managers charged more than $106,000 in 'unreasonable’ expenses By SANDRO CONTENTA News Thu., Nov. 10, 2016

The CEO of the York Region Children's Aid Society, Colette Prevost, has spent 30 years working in the social services and mental health sectors. She worked at the Sudbury society from 2008 to early 2015 and managed $36.2 million in provincial funding in the 2014-15 fiscal year. (TORONTO STAR)

The audit of senior manager expenses describes accounting and spending problems throughout the Sudbury society.

From April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2015, the society was not addressing, or complying with, 21 mandatory provincial government directives that govern how records are kept, expenses are approved and contracts awarded.

POOR RECORD KEEPING IS A SIGN OF FRAUD.

Record keeping was so bad that auditors couldn’t rule on an additional $290,000 worth of expenses on corporate cards, partly because they could not figure out which senior manager charged them.

That suggests the problems could go deeper than those found in the $203,400 worth of expenses they were able to review.

The audit also found more than $240,000 worth of contracts awarded in ways that violated minimum procurement policies, including failure to seek multiple quotes.

In a statement, the Children’s Aid Society of the Districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin said it has launched an internal forensic audit to “identify all the expenses that can be recovered” from Prévost.

In response to a request for comment from The Star, Prévost, who has not seen the report, said,“I do not take this lightly. I worked very diligently for Sudbury CAS. Sudbury CAS and I agreed late last year to reimbursement of expenses that were viewed as potentially outside agency policy.”

The York society’s chair, Barb Gray, said in an email that Prévost “is on a personal leave of absence.”

https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2016/11/10/cas-managers-charged-more-than-106000-in-unreasonable-expenses.html

A review of spending at the London and Middlesex Children’s Aid Society, kept under wraps for months, revealed nearly two dozen executives made more than $100,000 and the agency shelled out thousands of dollars for taxis and iPads.

London’s child welfare agency squandered money on costly office renovations and highly paid, bloated management ranks, a just-released report by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services states.

The ministry put the Children’s Aid Society of London and Middlesex under review in late 2013 because the agency that cares for vulnerable children was running a deficit.

https://lfpress.com/2015/03/16/child-welfare-agency-found-to-have-wasted-money-on-office-renovations-consultants-and-bloated-management/wcm/e32079bc-4395-7c5e-70ec-378d688f0b6a

Layoffs At Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society BY ADELLE LOISELLE SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

The Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society is laying off eight administrative support and preventative services workers.

Interim Executive Director Terry Johnson says the layoffs will not affect workers on the frontline and should not affect the quality of care received by children in their custody.

She says the problem is the budget. The province is reviewing the funding formula, so the agency does not know how much money it will get this year.

“We don’t know our budget for the year, and we’re five months into our year,” she says.

While the number of children in Children’s Aid custody has remained relatively consistent, Johnson says more kids require more complex care, and that is costly.

The most expensive babysitters on earth...

“On average that’s $310 a day, but when you bring some kids in it costs $500 to $1,000 a day,” says Johnson. “It has a huge impact on the budget.”

The average family of four on welfare might get a $1000 a month in Ontario.

The agency came up short $1.4-million, but thanks to surpluses in years past, it was able to whittle that down to $300,000 or $400,000. Children’s Aid is not allowed to carry over a deficit, so it has to find ways to mitigate the shortfall.

Once it hears back from the province, Johnson says it is possible those workers will be recalled.

Because of bumping rights in the workers’ collective agreement, the layoffs are not expected to take effect until mid-October at the earliest.

https://blackburnnews.com/windsor/windsor-news/2017/09/01/layoffs-windsor-essex-childrens-aid-society/ ---

Children's Aid gets $4.3 million cash boost from province

The local Children's Aid Society is out of the red after the province agreed to "mitigate" the agency's $4.3 million deficit in time for its April 1 fiscal year start.

BEATRICE FANTONI, WINDSOR STAR Updated: March 28, 2013.

The local Children’s Aid Society is out of the red after the province agreed to give the agency an extra $4.3 million to erase its deficit and balances its books in time for its April 1 fiscal year start.

But whether that extra money will help reverse a decision to layoff 18 casual employees is hard to say, said Bill Bevan, director of the Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society.

“There won’t be any quick decisions in the next few weeks,” Bevan said on Monday, adding that the cash boost will help balance the 2012-2013 budget, but he has yet to get a clear picture of what the province will provide for the 2013-2014 budget, since it has introduced a new funding model.

Last week, the CAS announced it would layoff 18 casual case workers due to budgetary deficits.

“There may be a need for those staff down the road, but not immediately,” Bevan said on Monday. It all depends on the volume of work in the coming months as well as how WECAS manages to reorganize itself, he said, adding that the layoffs are not child protection workers or full-time staff.

The cutbacks are forced by a $70-million provincial funding shortfall across Ontario. WECAS not only had a $4.3 million deficit, it is also juggling $1.6 million in historic debt.

https://windsorstar.com/news/childrens-aid-gets-4-3-million-cash-boost-from-province ---

C.A.S. ATTITUDE: WIN CHILD WELFARE CASES AT ALL COSTS $$$.

By Gene C. Colman of Gene C. Colman Family Law Centre posted in Child Welfare on Thursday, January 1, 2015.

It should not be a matter of "win" or "lose" when it comes to Ontario child welfare law yet it isn't actually about the actual condition of the child or the child's welfare. It's about accusations, Cosmo quiz style parental risk assessments and fake experts and every time the society decides your a risk they get paid.

Ontario's Child and Family Services Act tells us that the paramount purpose is to "promote the best interests, protection and well being of children." One might note the glaring lack of any reference to family. In fact, there is a paucity of references to family throughout the entire CFSA even though many judges recognize the importance of maintaining family whenever possible.

I had a recent experience with CAS counsel at court when representing a family unjustly caught up in the system. Our office had prepared a very persuasive and comprehensive response to the Society's Application. We attended at the mandated five day hearing that follows apprehensions from parental care. The CAS certainly had not expected such forcefulness; normally parents are so overwhelmed at this early stage that they are unable to mount an effective defence. Generally, the court will rubber stamp the CAS requests. We did not agree to just stand idly by at the first appearance and CAS counsel was surprised by our aggressive (yet fair) approach.

Our written material seemed to have persuaded the judge. He instructed the lawyers to prepare a consent endorsement along the lines that we were seeking (which of course included an immediate return of the children to parental care). As we were returning to the courtroom after preparing the consent, the experienced and respected CAS counsel turned to me and my clients and remarked: "This is the third time your lawyer has beaten me."

The CAS counsel's comment was made innocently enough and indeed was intended to be complimentary. But still I was shocked (but probably should not have been). Why was I so shocked?

https://www.complexfamilylaw.com/blog/2015/01/cas-attitude-win-child-welfare-cases-at-all-costs.shtml

FORMER ONTARIO CONSERVATIVE MPP FRANK KLEES EXPLAINS "A DISTINCTION WITHOUT A DIFFERENCE."

I'M NOT A SOCIAL WORKER, I'M A CHILD PROTECTION WORKER!

https://youtu.be/SA1YyWO0RTQ?list=PLsYhw09i3If44rMBDuZQ0ztayzSQU35Fy

Story 1 of 3

Barbara Kay: "Children's aid societies gone rogue."

Judge Harper wrote that that the father was lucky to “dig out from under the avalanche thrust upon him,” and that “the scars to the children” were permanent. In summary, “This was exacerbated by the actions of the Society, some police officers, some women’s groups and a school board.

The mother was, to put it mildly — confirmed by recordings, e-mails and text messages — unreliable and manipulative. The three boys repeatedly alerted the CAS to their mother’s violence, alcoholism and sexual indiscretions. Yet the CAS blithely ignored all evidence to the contrary of their own settled conviction that the mother deserved their support.

Finally the mother accused her oldest son of trying to kill her, which brought the family into a criminal court that doesn't just take society's word for everything .

Judge Harper assigned two-thirds of the court costs to the CAS — a record $1.4 million — and $604,500 to the mother.

He had scathing words for the CAS, whom he charged with becoming “a lead advocate” for the mother and the driving force for the trial.

He said that the agency went to great lengths to smother any evidence that countered their theory.

It was revealed at trial in a criminal court that mandatory document-sharing (file disclosure) was running a year late in the family court, and that one CAS supervisor, tasked with providing information to lawyers, had removed 475 pages of notes, records, summaries and emails from the file to the criminal proceedings. (This, by the way, is a criminal offence, although to my knowledge the supervisor has not been charged.) Judge Harper also noted that meetings were held to discuss how to protect the mother and case workers from the demonized father.

http://nationalpost.com/opinion/barbara-kay-childrens-aid-societies-gone-rogue

Story 2 of 3

"CAS vows to appeal ruling of ‘bad faith."

“We stand by our decision to seek a child protection application in this matter.”

“We don’t make these decisions lightly and we take into consideration the opinions of other professionals and in this case we did so,” said Fitzgerald, referring to consultations with police, women’s groups and school officials.

Last week, Superior Court Justice John Harper slapped the CAS with a $1.4-million court bill and had harsh words for the agency, saying it failed to properly investigate a mother’s version of events in a divorce and custody battle, even when three children tried to alert authorities of the woman’s violence, alcoholism and manipulation.

http://www.lfpress.com/2014/04/14/cas-vows-to-defend-ruling-of-bad-faith

Story 3 of 3

THE BIG STORY LEFT OUT OF NEWSPAPER IN ONTARIO.

Children’s Aid Society of London and Middlesex v. C.B.D.: Interests of the Children Lead to Quashing of Appeal in Child Protection Context Mark Gelowitz. Oct 31, 2014.

Though the Ontario children's aid society has claimed for years family courts judges provide important oversight in child protection matters (which doesn't appear to be in their job description) the family court judge in this case did nothing at all to prevent this tragedy and if anything was a contributing factor.

But as it turns out some judges like outside the family courts Judge Harper do provide important oversight and insight into the many faces of Ontario children's aid society.

Quashing an appeal for lack of merit is an extreme remedy. But occasionally, when very little merit coincides with another social interest, an appeal can be quashed for a combination of reasons. Children’s Aid Society of London and Middlesex v. C.B.D., released October 9, 2014, is an example of this, as the Ontario Court of Appeal quashed the appeal of the Children’s Aid Society of London and Middlesex (the “Society”) from a decision refusing to impose a child protection order. The Court held that the appeal had very little merit, and the interests of the children mandated that the appeal be quashed.

https://www.osler.com/en/blogs/appeal/october-2014/children-s-aid-society-of-london-and-middlesex-v

IF THE BEST PREDICTOR FOR FUTURE BEHAVIOR IS RELEVANT CURRENT BEHAVIOR THEN SHOULDN'T RELEVANT CURRENT BEHAVIOR BE THE BEST INDICATOR OF PAST BEHAVIOR.

Unlicensed Daycare Operator successfully sued for making a false report to the CAS...

In a decision delivered last month, Superior Court judge Lewis Richardson ruled Tammy Larabie’s call to the CAS was “unreasonable” and there “was nothing to suggest that (the baby) was in any danger.”

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/03/27/daycare-operator-sued-for-calling-the-cas.html

A LITTLE FOOD FOR THOUGHT..

CANADIAN SECURITIES ADMINISTRATORS NOTICE 24-303

CSA SRO OVERSIGHT PROJECT

REVIEW OF OVERSIGHT OF SELF-REGULATORY ORGANIZATIONS AND MARKET INFRASTRUCTURE ENTITIES

REPORT OF THE CSA SRO OVERSIGHT PROJECT COMMITTEE

DECEMBER 2006

Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A. RELIANCE ON SELF-REGULATORY ORGANIZATIONS (SROs) AND MARKET INFRASTRUCTURE

ENTITIES AND THE CSA SRO OVERSIGHT PROJECT

B. HOW DO WE DETERMINE AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF RELIANCE?

Public Interest Criteria

Governance

Enforcement Powers

C. GAPS, INTENTIONAL DUPLICATIONS AND INCONSISTENCIES.

Transparency of Role of SROs and Market Infrastructure Entities and Streamlining

SRO Consolidation

D. IMPROVING THE CURRENT OVERSIGHT APPROACH

Oversight Reviews

Review of Rules

E. CONCLUSION

http://www.osc.gov.on.ca/documents/en/Securities-Category2/csa_20061208_24-303_oversightproject.pdf

SHOULD ANY AGENCY THAT CONDUCTS INVESTIGATIONS TO BE USED IN THE COURTS BE SELF-REGULATORY?

Marketization of law making is a process that enables the elites to operate as market oriented firms by changing the legal environment in which they operate in. When the people who have power in our society can have an influence in law making, the laws that get created will not maintain the appearance of equality and the elites in society can lobby and eventually criminalize (demonize) the poor. The laws will start to benefit the big corporations (elites). This is well illustrated in Stan Cohen’s concept of the moral panic. A moral panic refers to the reaction of a group within society (elite) to the activities of a non elite group. The targeted group is seen as a threat to society also referred to as the folk devil. Here we can see here how child welfare law is not applied equally to everyone. In this particular instance the child welfare law is benefiting the people with means. Motherisk hair test evidence tossed out of Colorado court 2 decades before questions raised in Canada. For more than two decades, Motherisk performed flawed hair-strand tests on thousands of vulnerable families across Canada, influencing decisions in child protection cases that separated parents from their children and sometimes children from their siblings. (CBC) https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/motherisk-colorado-court-case-1.4364862 A Motherisk expert testified for the defence in a Colorado murder case. The judge mocked the lab’s processes. But the case remained virtually unknown in Ontario until now. http://projects.thestar.com/motherisk/part-2/ Silenced, discredited, stripped of powers of moral appeal, and deprived of the interpersonal conditions necessary for maintaining self-respect and labeled "disgruntled" many people suffer from serious but subtle forms of oppression involving neither physical violence nor the use of law. The GONE theory holds that Greed, Opportunity, Need and the Expectation of not being caught are what lay the groundwork for fraud. Greed and/or need provides the motive. Judge rejects proposed class-action over Motherisk drug-testing scandal. By RACHEL MENDLESON Investigative Reporter. Thu., Nov. 2, 2017. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/11/02/judge-rejects-proposed-class-action-over-motherisk-drug-testing-scandal.html Parents lose second bid to launch class-action suit against Motherisk over flawed hair tests. By RACHEL MENDLESON Investigative Reporter. Tues., Nov. 27, 2018. Despite the “knee-jerk denials” of Motherisk experts and the Hospital for Sick Children, it wouldn’t be hard to prove in court that the lab’s drug and alcohol hair tests were broadly unreliable. However, establishing this fact wouldn't advance individual cases enough to make a national class-action lawsuit the right approach for thousands of families seeking compensation. https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/2018/11/27/parents-lose-second-bid-to-launch-class-action-suit-against-motherisk-over-flawed-hair-tests.html IN ONTARIO CANADA JUSTICE ISN'T BLIND ... IT'S AN ACCESSORY AFTER THE FACT. Comack states; “While the pivotal point in the rule of law is ‘equality of all before the law’, the provision of formal equality in the legal sphere does not extend to the economic sphere. Thus, the law maintains only the appearance of equality because, it never calls into question the unequal and exploitative relationship between capital and labour.” This statement implies that the law is in place to be neutral. Therefore, the law would apply equally to everyone, including both the working and elite class. It can be said that in today’s society we have the marketization of law making. Corporatism: Fascism's theory of economic corporatism involved management of sectors of the economy by government or privately-controlled organizations (corporations). Each trade union or employer corporation would theoretically represent its professional concerns, especially by negotiation of labor contracts and the like. One of the 14 characteristics of fascism is - Corporate Power is Protected. The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite. The people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights and procedural protections can be ignored in certain cases because of special need. https://ratical.org/ratville/CAH/fasci14chars.html

Shonin isn’t just a wearable, it’s a body cam for civilians.

Because live-streaming with your smartphone isn’t always practical. The team behind Shonin says the camera is designed to capture “your side of the story,” citing possible uses like documenting road rage, abuses of power, events and protests, threats, and assault. Shonin also notes several everyday situations where it could be used, like walking alone at night, where the visible design of the camera itself might act as a deterrent.

The camera, which can be attached either by a clip or magnetic backing, begins recording with a tap to the body, and uses either cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity to instantly allow you to share video to destinations like Facebook Live or YouTube. It also securely stores videos on the Shonin cloud, lets you view videos on your phone via the Shonin app, and perform simple edits.

If no connectivity is available, the camera can also store encrypted captured footage to its internal 8GB SD card. The camera is also IP67 waterproof, is GPS enabled, and has a single charge that delivers 2.5 hours of battery life, which can be doubled with an additional magnetic battery.

https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2017/8/16/16156336/shonin-wearable-body-cam-civilians

Is it illegal to record someone speaking directly to you either overtly or covertly because someone in a position authority is acting unethically or committing a criminal act?

https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/section-183.1.html

Criminal Code (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46)

Full Document: HTMLFull Document: Criminal Code (Accessibility Buttons available) | XMLFull Document: Criminal Code [4088 KB] | PDFFull Document: Criminal Code [7214 KB]

Act current to 2019-01-30 and last amended on 2018-12-18. Previous Versions

Consent to interception

183.1 Where a private communication is originated by more than one person or is intended by the originator thereof to be received by more than one person, a consent to the interception thereof by any one of those persons is sufficient consent for the purposes of any provision of this Part.

1993, c. 40, s. 2.

Date modified: 2019-02-14

FCSLLG in "We are not social workers, we are child protection workers"

Meet Lisa Muir unregistered service manager for FCSLLG in this short recording.

https://youtu.be/YAU_PjjuBv4

Meet Kim Morrow, the now former director of service for FCSLLG felt no moral or ethical obligation to register with the college herself during her 30 plus years with the society who went ahead and filed a completely non-malicious and non-vindictive complaint about Kelley with the College.

INTERVIEW with Director of Service for Family and Children's Services of Lanark Leeds and Grenville:120 minutes.

https://youtu.be/kq6JCx5FlfA?list=PLsYhw09i3If44rMBDuZQ0ztayzSQU35Fy

What do you think?

Should Kim Morrow have remained in charge of a complaint about her own conduct? In this 34 minute recording Kim is looking for "creative ways" to handle Kelley's complaint. --

https://www.facebook.com/FamiliesUnitedOntario/videos/605844719625296/

Three Cops And A Social Worker... How A Pocket Dial Almost Ruined Lives

Author's Note:

The audio file attached resulted in three police officers pulling me and my husband out of our house around 7:30 Monday morning on April 27, 2015. When they didn't find anything, they made a report to CAS so they could try and search the home two days later.

The video is of a meeting with Family and Children's Services of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, which was set up after I sent in my complaint letter, which you can read following below.

https://unpublishedottawa.com/letter/48049/three-cops-and-social-worker-how-pocket-dial-almost-ruined-lives

Here's an "apology" letter now that doesn't really apologize, it actually blames us for everything they did wrong and it doesn't excuse the not so veiled threats to remove our children if we failed to cooperate fully without telling us of what we'd been accused of first - or for bringing my wife an I to court as part of their "investigative process" where at the same time this part of their claimed "investigative process" had not been concluded and without any determination of need the cas asked for the judge to order one year of supervision.

Page 1: https://www.facebook.com/FamiliesUnitedOntario/photos/a.421920498017720.1073741828.421903944686042/481605608715875/?type=3

Page 2: https://www.facebook.com/FamiliesUnitedOntario/photos/a.421920498017720.1073741828.421903944686042/481605878715848/?type=3

LETTER PDF.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/CCW.Group/10153303688647271/

Public sector salary disclosure 2017: Family and Children’s Services of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville is a non-profit agency.

Information on all public sector organizations, covered under the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act, with no employees who earned $100,000 or more in 2017.

Brown Derrick $101,674.15 $158.34 FCSLLG Human Resources Manager

Eastwood Jennifer $116,121.74 $140.07 FCSLLG Director of Corporate Services

Edmundson Nicola $101,143.12 $158.34 FCSLLG Senior Counsel

Fleet Michael $106,097.47 $158.34 FCSLLG Director of Service

Harper Penny $101,610.27 $158.34 FCSLLG Manager of Finance

Jonkman Debbie $104,048.11 $927.59 FCSLLG Service Manager

Knapp-Fisher Cathie $111,006.23 $158.34 FCSLLG Director of Operations and Innovation

Leblanc Dana $102,348.80 $158.34 FCSLLG Service Manager

:::

Lemay Raymond $194,498.98 ($9,123.92) FCSLLG Executive Director

:::

Marcotte Erin Lee $106,097.47 $158.34 FCSLLG Director of Service

Morrow Cynthia $103,591.80 $158.34 FCSLLG Service Manager

Simon Siju $106,462.80 $158.34 FCSLLG Service Manager

Thomas Stephanie $101,611.80 $158.34 FCSLLG Service Manager

Von Cramon Karynn $112,779.01 $158.34 FCSLLG Manager of Legal Services

https://www.ontario.ca/page/public-sector-salary-disclosure-2017-organizations-no-salaries-disclose

Welfare reform is the Ford government's next big project

Changes to Ontario's $10B social assistance system to be unveiled next week by Lisa MacLeod. Mike Crawley · CBC News · Posted: Nov 01, 2018.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/doug-ford-welfare-social-assistance-ontario-works-odsp-1.4885584

Social assistance cuts likely to get worse.

By ALEXI WHITE Opinion Sun., Aug. 5, 2018

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2018/08/05/social-assistance-cuts-likely-to-get-worse.html

There's No 'Dignity' In Ford Government's Welfare Reform.

This government seems far more interested in budget cuts than in policies that genuinely support the most vulnerable Ontarians.

https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/nick-saul/doug-ford-ontario-welfare-reform_a_23597917/

Ontario's social assistance reforms look like 'window dressing,' anti-poverty activist says,

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-s-social-assistance-reforms-look-like-window-dressing-anti-poverty-activist-says-1.4917350

Ontario unveils social assistance reforms, including change to definition of disability By Paola Loriggio. The Canadian Press.

https://globalnews.ca/news/4687970/ontario-social-assistance-reform-plan/