McIver blasts system’s culture of secrecy

Opposition members of the government’s child intervention review panel worry a veil of secrecy and bureaucratic protectionism around child welfare will impede changes to the system.

Time and again over the duration of three panel meetings so far, social workers and managers have declined to give their opinions, lobbing the ball back into the court of panel members by commenting: “That’s for you to decide.”

On Wednesday afternoon, Progressive Conservative interim leader and panel member Ric McIver had finally had enough.

Exasperated and shaking his head, he erupted with the comment: “If they can’t give the answer, then why are we here?”

McIver said he doesn’t blame workers for holding their tongues. But, he explained later, the culture of secrecy and the reticence of witnesses to speak ill of colleagues or other departments is frustrating.

McIver acknowledged secrecy was pervasive when his party was in charge, but pointed out that nothing has changed.

“What’s stopping people who clearly know how the system can be improved from telling us?” he asked.

Former social worker Heather Sweet, one of the NDP panel members, said there’s a long history of front-line workers and people within the system being told not to speak about problems.

She said changing that culture is a matter of building trust, and convincing workers the panel wants to listen, learn and improve the system.

Children’s Services Minister Danielle Larivee said Wednesday that presenters were asked to give information about the current state of play, and not to surmise on possible changes.

Her ministry is also working on a tool for front-line workers to share their personal opinions without fear of repercussions.

Talk Wednesday also turned to the importance of aboriginal voices.

While that is likely to come during the panel’s second stage of work, Will Campbell, an elder with Native Counselling Services of Alberta, said it’s vital that indigenous leaders and communities can suggest changes.

“We’ve had too many reviews where our people haven’t been informed ... and the information has not gotten any further than the walls of this building,” he said.

“It needs to get out there to every Albertan, to each person in the community.”

McIver said kids on reserves are getting fewer services than those offreserve, and he wants the panel to look at ways to change that.

“Together, maybe we can put pressure on the federal government to give aboriginal kids the same treatment — not better, not worse than other kids are getting,” he said.