Nunavut’s Family Services department has acknowledged providing inaccurate and unverified data regarding the number of children under its care. This revelation has raised concerns about the department’s ability to effectively monitor and track these children. Minister Gwen Healey Akearok stated she was unaware of the incorrect figures reported by her department.
Initially, in August, the department informed CBC News that as of June 30, they had 251 children and youth in their care. However, this number was questioned by Nunavut’s representative for children and youth, Jane Bates, who found it suspiciously low. Subsequent inquiries revealed that the department had inaccurately reported the figures, with the actual count being 440 children and youth under the department’s care, residing outside their family homes.
In response to the discrepancy, Inuit advocate Manitok Thompson expressed distrust in the department’s data accuracy, emphasizing the importance of not treating children as mere statistics. The department attributed the error to not verifying the figures with their quality assurance team before release.
Criticism of Nunavut’s Family Services extends to long-standing issues highlighted in reports by the Auditor General of Canada since 2011. Concerns revolve around data inconsistencies and the department’s handling of investigations involving children at risk. The most recent report in 2025 noted challenges in obtaining a clear picture of children in care due to manual data management processes.
Community social services workers have raised alarm over the department’s lack of accurate data on children and youth in its care. They believe that children may be overlooked if not properly entered into the department’s information system, leading to potential lapses in the care they receive. Instances of children being lodged in hotels due to insufficient foster care options have also been reported.
Minister Healey Akearok admitted to being unaware of the data discrepancies, citing capacity issues and staff shortages as factors affecting data quality checks. The transition to the Matrix system was mentioned as a potential cause for recording and reporting challenges. The minister highlighted ongoing efforts to address the auditor general’s recommendations and improve data monitoring for better service delivery to young individuals.
Despite the increased number of children, youth, and young adults receiving services from the department, concerns remain about the adequacy of preventive services to address neglect and mistreatment. Bates emphasized the importance of consistent services in preventing the escalation of children entering care. The focus of the department is not solely on reducing the number of children receiving services but on providing necessary support, especially to those living away from their families.
While efforts have been made to enhance care for children outside Nunavut, the number of children sent out of the territory for care has risen. Measures such as a centralized coordination team and revised placement standards aim to improve care for these children. However, advocates like Manitok Thompson express concerns about youth growing up away from their culture and community, emphasizing the need for more care facilities within Nunavut.