CHILDREN AND FAMILIES BOUND BY PRIVACY LAWS

Editor, The News:

I think it's important that I clarify some inaccuracies contained in
an editorial ("Too much secrecy around grow-op kids ") that appeared
in the Oct. 21 edition of The News.

I understand the desire for the media to obtain personal information
relating to cases. However, a phone call to the ministry would have
confirmed the ministry is precluded from releasing personal
information on specific cases because of privacy legislation.

I can assure readers that when police or the fire department,
identify a situation, such as a grow-op that may pose a risk to a
child, we work in cooperation with those agencies. Ministry staff
responds to each incident, assesses the situation and takes the
appropriate course of action. Every situation in which a child may be
at risk is unique and the response to each situation is based on the
circumstances and potential risk to each child.

The editorial references a report suggesting 155 children were
discovered in grow-ops as a result of investigations by inspectors
and firefighters. It is important to put into context the fact that
ministry staff attended to more than nine-thousand incidents in the
Fraser region last year.

We understand and appreciate the extent to which our hard working
front-line staff takes on their responsibilities. The ministry is in
the process of hiring 100 front-line staff this year and an
additional 300 new front-line employees over the next two years to
provide us with added flexibility at the community level.

Tom Christensen

Minster of Children and Family Development