CUPE Ontario rejects Premier Ford’s solution to Child Welfare crisis

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In response to growing pressure, Premier Doug Ford has announced that his government will conduct yet another audit of Ontario’s Child Welfare System. Their previous audit, which cost taxpayers millions, was only four years ago.

“My head is spinning,” says CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn. “It’s clear that what is missing from the Conservatives is a commitment to children and families in crisis and to the incredible people working to provide support in a system plagued with underfunding. Vulnerable young people, including those with high-needs, are literally dying alone in motel rooms because there’s nowhere else to provide housing for them after this government stopped funding public group homes. It’s shocking that the supposed solution would be an audit and not a reversal of privatization, accompanied by a clear commitment to fund children and families in need.

“The Conservative government is responsible for the pain and suffering endured by these innocent children. An audit will do nothing to mitigate the consequences of this government’s decisions that have led to this crisis in care.”

Underfunding of Ontario’s Children’s Aid is not a new issue. In 2022, Ford publicly acknowledged his government “needed to do better” and said, “We’re going to make sure, myself personally, that I’m going to be on this, as we have been, but right after the election that’s going to be one of my key focuses.”

“Well, Mr. Ford, you’ve been Premier for six years now. It’s time to finally act on your words. Your blind commitment to privatization has failed these children and those working hard to support them. Your policies have failed this province,” continued Hahn, “Doug Ford and the Conservative caucus should already know what the problem is. The workers who support these affected families and children know the problem and the solution – we need a fully funded public system that supports vulnerable children and families. That is the solution.”

“Continued privatization and chronic underfunding of our Child Welfare System is not sustainable for our communities,” says Karen Trench, president of CUPE 2190, which represents workers at the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto. “Less money means fewer staff and fewer resources. The Conservative’s funding model abandons children with complex needs. Prevention work comes at a cost that CAS doesn’t get funded for. Instead, Ford’s funding formula is contingent on bringing kids into care; we want to see it contingent on keeping them in the Community.

“The Ford Conservatives created this problem, and now they have to fix it,” Trench says. “Spending millions of dollars on high-priced consultants and accountants for yet another audit is the last thing these children need. Children need safe places to stay that are adequately staffed by trained professionals. It’s not rocket science.”

CUPE Ontario urges Premier Ford and Minister Parsa to stop playing politics with children’s lives and provide immediate, significant and sustained funding now!

Key Facts (Internal Data from 20 out of 27 CUPE locals representing CAS workers)

• 100% of agencies have placed a child or youth in an unlicensed home
• 65% of CAS agencies are in deficit, securing unlicensed homes and staffing them can cost agencies $1 million a year per placement.
• Three agencies have placed children as young as 5 in hotels or motels
• Three agencies have placed children or youth in CAS offices
• Workers in 9 agencies said that children placed in unlicensed homes do not receive necessary mental health treatments

Additional resources

• Ottawa CAS warns child welfare at ‘tipping point’ over shortfall in supports for youth with complex needs
• Twenty child protection agencies Ontario are warehousing young people in motels, hotels, and short-term rentals
• Child welfare agencies say shortage of foster families in Ontario 'deeply concerning
• Colin D’Mello Tweet
• This Is Not About Money This Is About Children
• Broken child welfare systems are a result of profits being put ahead of children, experts say

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