Children's advocate shocked by renewed resignation call

Manitoba's children's advocate was caught off guard by by renewed calls for her resignation, over comments she made earlier this year about the Phoenix Sinclair inquiry.

A spokesperson with Darlene MacDonald's office told CBC News that she was surprised when provincial Liberal Leader Jon Gerrard joined First Nation leaders on Thursday to reiterate their demand that MacDonald step down.

Gerrard and the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs have beencalling on MacDonald to resign since June, when a Winnipeg newspaper publishedcomments she made about the amount of money being spent on the inquiry.

The Phoenix Sinclair inquiry is examining the death in 2005 of the five-year-old First Nation girl, who was killed by her biological mother and stepfather after spending much of her short life in and out of the province's child and family services (CFS) system.

MacDonald told the newspaper she feels the money spent on the inquiry, which is considered to be the most expensive inquiry in Manitoba's history, could be better used elsewhere in the CFS system.

She later said her comments weremeant to underline the mandate of her office, which was already involved in two external reviews into Phoenix's death.

In addition to blasting MacDonald's remarks, Gerrard has also criticized her for not getting more involved in the public inquiry.

The spokesperson said MacDonald does plan to testify at the inquiry at a later date.