The former advocate for children and youth in Ontario is urging an inquiry into the Children’s Aid Society of the Districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin. This comes after the Minister of Children, Community, and Social Services appointed Steven Woodman to oversee the CAS following concerns highlighted in recent ministry reviews. These concerns included issues related to the safety and well-being of children and youth under the society’s care, as well as significant operational and financial mismanagement.
Irwin Elman, who served as the province’s child and youth advocate from 2008 to 2019, expressed his concerns in an interview with CBC Sudbury. Elman questioned the motives behind the government’s decision to appoint a CAS supervisor, emphasizing that such actions are typically related to financial management rather than child safety concerns.
The Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services cited various alarming issues leading to the appointment of a CAS supervisor. These concerns included allegations of making child placement decisions without proper authorization, instances compromising children’s safety and care standards, lack of adequate supervision for children in care, and significant operational and financial mismanagement.
Elman raised important questions about the number of affected children, the nature of their situations, the timeliness of the ministry’s response, and the current actions being taken. He also criticized the lack of transparency and accountability, calling for an independent investigation into the matter.
Despite requests for interviews, both the ministry and the CAS of the Districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin declined to comment further. Elman called for the resignation of Minister Michael Parsa and urged for a different minister to take over the portfolio, given the gravity of the situation. CBC reached out to Parsa’s office for a response but had not received a reply at the time of publication.