B.C. children’s advocate retires
B.C. children’s representative Bernard Richard will retire early from the key position of advocating for vulnerable youth in the child welfare system after less than two years in the role.
Richard, a former New Brunswick politician and children’s advocate, said that when he was hired in November 2016 it was as a “transition representative,” taking over from Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, who held the post for a decade. Turpel-Lafond’s scathing reports on the failings of the system pushed hard for change, but along the way she developed a very fractious relationship with the government.
“When I first arrived, every meeting I attended there was kind of a tension that wasn’t healthy. I really saw my role quickly as reestablishing trust between our office and primarily (the Ministry of Children and Family Development), and that, I think, has happened,” he said.
When asked for any advice he would offer his replacement, Richard said to not make the battles for change personal, and to find an efficient way to achieve progress.
“You have to take advantage of the independence you have — Mary Ellen was supreme at doing that. She was an amazing representative for children and youth, so it was hard to follow in her footsteps, but you also have to maintain a level of balance,” he said.
Turpel-Lafond on Wednesday said much change is still required after decades of budget erosion, and said there is a continued need for strong, independent advocacy.
“I’m grateful the new government has embraced the need for the representative and turned a corner. Many things shifted after a long, hard struggle, and Mr. Richard was the beneficiary of diligent effort to push the system forward,” she wrote in an email.
“I hope a new representative will be appointed who can stick with the role and who is prepared to stand up for those who really have no effective voice. Change does not occur in the province in backrooms with inside fixers.”
Richard was hired in November 2016 by the B.C. Liberals. He is a former New Brunswick MLA, cabinet minister, lawyer, social worker and ombudsperson, and was that province’s first child and youth advocate.
The work that must be continued by the next representative, he said, is similar to the priorities when he took over, such as the over-representation of Indigenous children in care and much-needed improvements to mental health and addiction services.
“I talk to parents, almost on a weekly basis, and it breaks my heart every time. They can’t access (addiction and mental health) services,” Richard said.
Another critical issue is youth aging out of the child welfare system at age 19, when they lose all the supports they had relied on.
“Too many children, or young adults, are found on the streets,” he said. “They are just not prepared to become adults. They don’t have the same kinds of supports that our children have. They face a very rough world and we need to do a much better job.”
He leaves in August. In New Brunswick, he will work with a new Indigenous child welfare agency focused on family preservation.