Ontario launches review of children's aid societies after Ford criticism

Ontario is launching a review of the province's 37 non-Indigenous children's aid societies, looking at the quality of protection they provide and their financial management.

Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services officials said Wednesday they are beginning a process to look for an outside contractor to conduct the review, which comes one week after Premier Doug Ford criticized the societies in a news conference.

Ford said last week he has heard "nightmare stories about the abuse of taxpayers' money," suggesting the agencies are working in places he referred to as Taj Mahals, and managers are giving themselves bonuses.

"All those managers that are giving yourselves a bonus and not worrying about the kids, I'm coming for you," Ford said in response to a question about Toronto Star reporting showing a lack of beds for children with complex needs.

"We're doing a complete audit and if we see funds not being spent properly on the kids, guess what? You're looking for another job."

In response to those comments, the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies said the number of children with complex needs is rising, and that there are systemic barriers to providing highly specialized, intensive early intervention and prevention supports.

Ministry officials who provided a background briefing on the review Wednesday say that societies' deficits are continuing to rise and the audit will examine the underlying issues and possible solutions.

The officials, who spoke on condition they not be identified, say the review will focus on service quality, consistency of services, out-of-home placements, finances, executive compensation, staffing models, cost structures, capital assets and integration with community supports.

There are currently 11,600 children and youth in care in Ontario,according to a presentation deck detailing the review. The average number of children in care has decreased by 30 per cent over the past 10 years.

Meanwhile, annual funding for the 37 non-Indigenous societies has increased by $129 million since 2013 to $1.3 billion this year, the slide shows.

Minister of Children, Community and Social Services Michael Parsa said in a statement that children continue "falling through the cracks" despite stronger legislative rules and historic levels of funding.

"We know more needs to be done to ensure that every dollar is spent effectively on supporting these children and youth," Parsa said. "That's why we are taking this next step with a sector-wide review to better understand the pressures children's aid societies face and to ensure they remain focused on providing high-quality services and support."

NDP MPP Monique Taylor (Hamilton Mountain) blamed the Ford government for the "mess they have created" in children's aid societies across the province.

"We need investments, not distractions," Taylor said in a statement. "Ford's 'review' does nothing about decades of government underfunding, it does nothing about the crisis brewing in the system, it is simply an abdication of responsibility from a government that is choosing to look away from the crisis."