Support Bill 42 to give Ombudsman’s office power of scrutiny

Members of the Kingston and Quinte Citizens for Accountability, and others from Pembroke and area picket at the corner of Pembroke Street West and Crandall Streets Friday morning.

Efforts to build support for Bill 42, which would bring agencies such as Children’s Aid Societies under the scrutiny of the Ontario Ombudsman, continued in Pembroke on Friday.

About a dozen or so members of the Kingston and Quinte Citizens for Accountability, along with members of the public, held a floating picket around the city, as they tried to get their message out for the need of oversight and accountability for CAS organizations.

After starting at the the corner of Pembroke Street West and Crandall Street by the West End Mall in the morning, the group relocated at 1 p.m. to Shamrock Park in the downtown core, then marched from there to the Renfrew County Family and Children’s Services offices on Mary Street.

Curtis Jade Kingston, one of the rally organizers, is a child and family justice advocate who works out of Belleville. He’s part of both the Citizens for Accountability and Canada Court Watch, which are both calling for greater oversight and accountability of Children’s Aid Societies.  (more...)

Support Bill 42 to give Ombudsman’s office power of scrutiny