Former judge urges B.C. premier to withdraw legislation regarding child welfare
By Lindsay Kines and Rob Shaw
Times Colonist
May 17, 2010 

Former judge Ted Hughes urged B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell today to withdraw legislation that would undermine the powers of Children's Representative Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond.

Hughes, whose damning review of the child welfare system led to the creation of Turpel-Lafond's office in 2006, said the proposed law would “strike a negative blow to the heart” of efforts to restore public confidence in the system.

“In 2006, you saw the interests and safety of the children of our province — particularly those in care and those at risk, aboriginal and non-aboriginal children alike, as a paramount concern of your government,” Hughes wrote in a letter to Campbell today.

“That should be no less the case today than it was four years ago.”

Hughes told Campbell that the sweeping powers granted Turpel-Lafond's office were an “integral and critical part of what both you and I were attempting to achieve.” The proposed changes to those powers will result in a “substantial impairment” of her ability to carry out her work, he said….

Hughes says “this unfortunate and unacceptable relationship is standing in the way of the full repair of the child welfare system of this province which my 2006 report was intended to achieve,” he said. “For obvious reasons I encourage you to take a leadership role in such a (mediation) initiative. We have to remember this is all about our kids — of that we cannot lose sight.”….

See a copy of the Hughes letter at the end of the article.