PORT HAWKESBURY: The push is on for Nova Scotia to establish a child advocate office.
Last Thursday, the Strait Region Society for Children, Youth, and Families hosted an information session with child advocacy consultant, Marvin M. Bernstein, who spoke in favor of improving services for youth in the province.
“I’m here to raise awareness about the importance of establishing a standalone, independent child advocate office here in Nova Scotia,” said Bernstein, who was invited to speak by the Strait group, as well as the Cape Breton Victoria Child Advocacy Society in Sydney.
“The function would be to advance the well-being, best interests and the rights of children and young people who are receiving different kinds of services from the provincial government.”
Out of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories, 11 have independent offices dedicated to the rights of children. Nine of these offices are self-standing, but in Nova Scotia, this role is undertaken by the Youth and Senior Services Division of the Ombudsman’s Office. While Bernstein acknowledged the work that has been done by Ombudsman, he believes that it is time to consider a new model for serving youth in the province.
The standalone Child Advocacy Office would focus exclusively on the needs of young people. The advocate’s role would include ensuring youth have a say in decisions that affect them, and holding government agencies to account. The office would be able to conduct independent investigations, and would report directly to Nova Scotia Legislature. The independent office would have the authority to engage proactively with issues that affect youth, whereas the Office of the Ombudsman generally responds to formal complaints.
Bernstein served as Saskatchewan’s Children’s Advocate from 2005–2010. During that time, his office prompted government action on a number of issues, including the overcrowding of foster homes, and the over-representation of Indigenous children in government care. He pointed out that each province has its own unique set of concerns and stressed the importance of providing appropriate supports within a child’s home community.
“Child poverty is a significant issue in this province compared to other jurisdictions,” said Bernstein, who pointed out that Nova Scotia has the third highest rate of child poverty in Canada. “In Cape Breton, I was struck by the fact that the child poverty level was even higher than the rest of the province.”
Local child advocacy groups see first-hand how economic disadvantage impacts the daily lives of young people in the region.
“In the Strait area, one of our concerns would be looking at the vulnerable children and what we can do. For example, some children don’t come to school with proper nutrition,” said Doreen Beaton, Co-chair of the Strait Region Society for Children, Youth, and Families.
Beaton pointed out that poverty can also impact children’s involvement in sports and other community activities, and she would like to see more supports in place for youth in the region.
The day before, Bernstein met with the Nova Scotia Deputy Ministers of Community Services, Education, and Health, along representatives from local child advocacy groups, to discuss the potential office.
“We had a very good meeting… so we feel as though there is willingness and a receptivity to listen, and to consider some other alternatives,” said Bernstein, who told the deputy ministers he would be willing to provide consultation on the issue.
“Why should children in Nova Scotia be denied a level of advocacy and a commitment to the protection of their rights that children seem to enjoy in most other parts of the country?”