The Ford government is being asked how many children have died in care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa says APTN recently was asked to cough up $300 for a Freedom of Information request.
“I think the least you could do is at least wave the fee. The government has refused to complete a Freedom of Information Act request to disclose the number of children that have died and been seriously injured.”
Mamakwa adds “This information should be readily available to the public. The fact that the government makes it so difficult to access these numbers doesn’t create any trust. Why does Ontario not want us to know how the child welfare system is not protected during this pandemic?”
Associate Minister of Children and Women’s Issues Jill Dunlop says she can’t comment on the issue because it would be “interfering in an on-going process”.
Dunlop does say the fees are based on the amount of work that’s required on a particular file.
Ontario has been stalling on providing the number of deaths of kids in care during this pandemic. When will the Minister do the right thing and waive the fee so the public may learn how many children and youth have died while in care during this pandemic?#onpoli #fnpoli https://t.co/3oGVq3f7w3
— Sol Mamakwa MPP (@solmamakwa) July 16, 2020
