The Editor,
Residents have been informed by the powers that be in Victoria that the Honourable Minister for Children and Family Development Stephanie Cadieux will run for the BC Liberals this spring in the newly created riding of Surrey South.
This would be Cadieux’s third constituency, having previously represented Surrey Panorama and Surrey Cloverdale.
Dare I ask whether we really want this person to represent us? Cadieux’s record is nothing but one horrific catastrophe after another. The wait list for help from this key ministry is nine months – double that if you are aboriginal.
These are children in crisis. In the 2015/2016 fiscal year alone there have been no less than 530 critical injuries, 112 incidents of attempted suicide reported and 90 deaths. Isabella Wiens, Patricia Evoy, Alex Gervais, a girl the ministry refers to only as Paige, and many others have died under the minister’s watch. Children are taken out of their families and expected to live alone and unsupported in hotel rooms. Are the suicides and accidents a surprise?
For weeks now, we have read stories about a three-year-old Metis girl ripped away from her loving foster parents and sent to Ontario. And we recently learned that more than 112 children in the government’s care were victims of “sexualized violence,” often by the foster parent.
Cadieux was not heard from, but someone in her department said something about “giving it some thought.”
Not good enough. This woman’s neglect of the most vulnerable members of our society is a reflection on all of us. I, for one, will not be supporting her and I urge others to follow suit.
Niovi Patsicakis, Surrey
