Act needs changing to truly protect children

Crucial changes to the Nova Scotia Children and Family Services Act must be high on the list of priorities for a new provincial government after the Oct. 8 election.

This act is the legislation by which the province oversees the lives of children and young people threatened by dysfunctional and dangerous family and home situations.

The NDP government has failed children at risk by ignoring obvious flaws in the act. Indeed, that government has been more proactive in making legislative changes to improve the lot of animals in the province than to promote and protect the safety of our most vulnerable citizens.

Individuals and organizations such as the Cape Breton-Victoria Child Advocacy Society have asked the community services minister to promote two important changes.

First, the legislation needs to define children as people up to the age of 18, not 16, as it is now. Young people at risk are virtually abandoned by the provincial government at 16, with many lives lost to drugs and other dangers of life on the street.

Second, the legislation must expand the current narrow definition of neglect from simply physical danger to include emotional and developmental neglect.

These important changes will begin a necessary shift of the focus of the act from an antiquated notion of preserving an ideal family to the present safety and future potential of children at risk.

I urge all Nova Scotians to press candidates in the coming weeks to take a stand for children by pledging to make these changes part of a platform that will truly improve the lives of our people. Rev. Stephen Mills Margaree Centre