Add child advocate to Yukon Children's Act, critics suggest

The Yukon's proposed new version of its Children's Act has been met with tempered optimism by critics, who suggested adding a child advocate position to the long-awaited legislation.

The territorial government is currently showing First Nations and select special-interest groups a draft version of a new Child and Family Services Act, which has been in the works for the past five years.

Peoplewho have seen a leaked copy of the document told CBC News they are pleased with some of the proposals from increased First Nations involvement to transitional support for young adults leaving care but said they do not go far enough.

"My belief is that it's always better late than never," McIntyre-Takhini NDP MLA John Edzerza said Monday.

"I believe that this act should add a section in the legislation allowing for a child advocate position, independent of government."

Lorraine Stick, who used to design programs for children in care at the Youth Achievement Centre, a Whitehorseoutreach centre for youth at risk or involved with criminaljustice system,said having a child advocate would give children in care a voice.

Children in care belong to one ofthe most marginalized groups in the Yukon, she said.

"We need to listen to what the kids are saying, what the children are saying," Stick said.

Changing the current child and family system will require dedication and funding, she said.

"What type of training and what kind of monies are they going to put in place for this to happen?" she said. "Lots of things have to happen. There's lots of homework that needs to be done."

The draft legislation, which was developed by representatives from the government and the Council of Yukon First Nations, is expected to be tabled in the legislature this spring, after the current round of consultationsis complete.

Government officials are scheduled to meet later this week with the Kwanlin Dun First Nation in Whitehorse. Chief Mike Smith said his First Nation believes the current system does not work for children and needs to be fixed.

"If you look at the true intent of that legislation, everything is written for the benefit of the government. It's not written for the benefit of the child," Smith said of the current legislation, adding that First Nations children need more culturally relevant programs that use their traditional language and keep them in their home communities.

ButSmith said he has not paid much attention to the government's proposed act, as he is more interested in an experiment by another First Nation, the Carcross Tagish, which is working on its own family law.

The Carcross Tagish hope theirfamily law could eventually allow families there to opt out of the Yukon government's child welfare system, in favour of the First Nation's own system.

"Essentially what they're trying to do is keep the children in the community and provide the mechanisms to help the family, so that the child would stay at home, which is the best place for the child," Smith said.