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TimingVille
First, the following, from CKNW 'Staff' (i.e. no bylines that could be frozen out of future 'exclusives'):
Retired civil servant Bob Plecas has penned a report blaming B.C.’s Representative for Children and Youth, the media and the Opposition for problems with the Ministry of Children and Family Development...
{snip}
...Plecas’ appointment to conduct the so-called “independent review” was not without controversy.
While he spent decades working for the B.C government under both Social Credit and NDP, he’s hardly an outsider as a retired career civil servant.
In fact, he’s credited with creating the Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Plecas also has a family connection to the current Clark government.
His daughter, Bobbi Plecas, is the associate deputy minister for the Office of the Premier....
So.
About that original 'controversy' of Mr. B. Plecas' appointment as noted by Ian Mulgrew in his first VSun piece on this matter published back on July 25th, 2015:
Children and Families Minister Stephanie Cadieux has declared war on B.C.’s children’s advocate by appointing Bob Plecas to review the latest scandal to beset the government.
In the face of a damning decision that lambasted her ministry, Cadieux is making the problem worse with her response to findings that child welfare workers gave an abusive dad the opportunity to commit sex abuse while labelling the caring mom crazy...
{snip}
...Instead of inviting the woman with the legislative mandate to get involved (Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond), Cadieux gave the job Friday (July 24th, 2015) to the longtime, retired bureaucrat.
She said Turpel-Lafond has exhibited bias.
All of which brings us to the timing of Ms. Clark's hiring of Ms. B. Plecas to work in her (Ms. Clark's) office, based on the spade work of North Van's Grumps over at Merv Adey's place:
...As of the July 30 (2015) Cabinet shake-up, is now working out of the Office of the Premier: Bobbi Plecas, Associate Deputy Minister... (scroll down to the bottom, here)
All of which is just purely coincidental timing, of course.
And nothing that any Lotuslandian proMedia member should spend any time, effort and/or insider access capital on by asking our fine premier specific, pointed questions about it.
Right?
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9 comments:
Who would have guessed it would come to this. Wait, you knew!
The review blames people for pointing out flaws in a system that causes death to childern. The blames the supporting media for stirring up problems and causing low noral.
It is truely frightenein that it has come to this. No thought of childern, just optics.
JM (WG)--
Absolutely.
Pure optics.
Time for someone to fisk Mr. Hughes report in response to B. (the Mr.) Plecas' oral 'comments' today.
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Yes, Daddy Plecas had his Maytag washer on high spin so that his beloved daughter would be ensured of continued employment in this witches'brew of a gutless soul-less government
Shame Shame on Plecas and this government for trying to put the blame for their incompetence and coldness on others. Next they will blame the children themselves. Sick bunch these people!
I hope the media are smart enough to figure out they have been thrown under the bus, that's how loyal these bunch of wolves are. I have my doubts though.
My concern is that if they are playing this game what chance is there for anything improving. The RCMP should be investigating all of this! Where the hell are they?
I am a retired school administrator who had MCFD on speed dial. They were often not happy to hear from me. Parents were often not happy to hear from them. Over the years I watched work loads increase and policies change. Some changes were ones that I believe put children at risk and on those occasions the child's file has a personal comment from me in reference to the issue. That said:
When I heard the uproar over the report, I immediately went to see who besides Mr. Plecas was involved in doing the research and writing the report. I also looked at the table with history of management in the Ministry. If we are looking for answers to issues, we need to address the botched up history and policy that is addressed in this report. I can't imagine a school district meeting expectations with that many changes in such a short period of time! Those are government policy decisions and this has been addressed in the report.
The Children's Commissioner is a good idea but if she cannot work with the ministry executive perhaps she is not the right person for the job. For improvement to happen, people need to work together and what I see is a poisoned relationship that will never work for the benefit of children as the adults are always trying to on up the other.
JMHO
Thanks Anon-Above--
I take your point about government policy decisions and timelines.
However, I don't quite understand how that kind of careening back and forth is the fault of the Children's Commissioner and/or her actions. Are you suggesting that the latter is pushing for too much change?
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As someone who is just observing, Ms. Turpel-Lafond has the media at her beck and call. It doesn't matter what the topic is, I never see media (or the public) questioning her perspective on issues. As we all know, no one is ever 100% correct. She is quick out of the blocks to speak on all issues. There have to be times that media breaks a story and she needs more information before she makes a comment...but she is always ready with a sound byte.
I always think reflective talk is of more value.
I was not comfortable with the racial lines that were drawn yesterday. The commissioner held her press conference supported by aboriginal leaders. They all exhibited anger.
I will admit that I am a white female but in reading the document I was delighted to see the recommendation for an aboriginal deputy minister. It is about time! During my time in school administration, I would with both the aboriginal and non aboriginal branches of MCFD. The best success for children were when their workers had cultural insight into their situation. I learned much from the SWs with whom I worked very closely. Aboriginal leadership at the top is essential for positive change.
If you read the people who participated in the review, they were not all white anglosaxon males. There appears to be a wide cultural mix of individuals.
I would like to admit that I am one of the biggest Christy haters in this province. I am not supporting her and did question why she would appoint Plecas to do the review.
What I am pleased to see is a global review of what has and is happening. I see this as an attempt to look globally at what is happening (and has happened) for the children of our province. This is so much bigger than the cases which have hit the headlines lately. It is a systemic problem that has festered for far too long.
I hope the report is a start. My observation is that the Children's Commissioner has been true to form: only she has the true vision of what should be happening for our children. She needs to work WITH MCFD if there is any hope of change.
Anon@1:19 PM
I'm wondering if you could point us to some specific examples of Ms. Turpel-Lafond's vision that are problematic. She has consistently offered to work with MCFD, and repeatedly expressed the same concerns now brought forward by Mr. Plecas, so it would appear it isn't her vision that is troublesome. You may be better informed however and your examples could help.
As for media availability, I can't count the number of times 'NW for one, has been able to go to her for comment when she issues a report or the proverbial hits the fan on an issue, but the minister or anyone from government has responded that they are unavailable. That isn't Ms. Turpel-Lafond's fault.
I echo Lew's request for specific examples.
Now...
To return to the spincycle... Ask yourself the following...If Mr. Plecas is actually saying that Ms. Turpel-Lafond has essentially been spot-on when it comes to the specifics of the problems at the MCFD why, exactly, is he calling for the Children Commisioner's head?
(and I will remind everyone that the Minister responsible called for that same head back in July when she announced that Mr. Plecas had been hired to assist in the beheading - Ian Mulgrew had that one one too)
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