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Cody's Death: How Deep an Investigation?

The Fontaine toddler died in a troubled home after social worker cutbacks. But the Liberals killed the Children's Commission -- and its power to investigate government fault. A TYEE SPECIAL REPORT

By Judith Ince, 11 Jan 2005, TheTyee.ca

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Cody Fontaine's brutal life ended two weeks ago in the jaws of the family dogs, while his mother, her boyfriend, and another adult slept.  His siblings found his lifeless body just before noon, and have now been removed from the care of their mother.

Media attention has largely focused on the dogs' role in the tragedy; there have been calls for restrictions on potentially aggressive dogs like Rottweilers, which were part of the family's menagerie. "When a young boy dies needlessly, we need to make certain that his death is not in vain," opined the Vancouver Sun. "The dogs that killed Cody were quite simply, instruments of deadly force." It's time to strengthen the dog laws, the editorial concluded.

Sherri Fontaine, Cody's mother, took second place to the snarling dogs in the press.  A woman with a long history of legal and drug problems, Fontaine was rebuked by an editorial in the Maple Ridge Times."You may think it's harsh, but drug dealers don't deserve care [sic] for kids, no matter how much they might be grieving."  

But beyond dangerous dogs and mothers with a dodgy past, important questions remain.  Have cuts to the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) affected levels of support given to a family with multiple challenges? Did the social workers involved with the family have sufficient resources to adequately investigate the level of risk faced by Cody Fontaine and his siblings? And who will ask these questions—and demand answers to them?

Falling responses to complaints

John Irwin, of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives has examined the effects of MCFD budget cuts to staffing levels. Using data from the ministry, he found that the numbers of social workers has declined somewhat, from 2206 in 2002 to 2144 last year, a decline of only 3 percent.  However, support staff—secretaries, administrators, clerks—have taken a dramatic hit, falling from a high of 5,076 in 2001 to 3983 last year, a drop of over 20 percent.

In addition, there has been a significant fall in the number of ministry investigations of reports of potential child neglect or abuse. The ratio of responses to complaints in 1999 stood at 73.2 percent, but by last year it had fallen to 58.7 percent. "If you look at the drop in FTEs [support staff] and the number of investigations, they seem to follow one another," he says. 

Shelley Linton is the principal of Riverside school in Maple Ridge, where Cody Fontaine's siblings were students.  She says the community served by the school has many vulnerable families, as well as a high number of "low-incidence" students—that is, children with significant emotional, physical or intellectual challenges. "I find that social workers are very overworked and have a lot on their plate," she says. "I think there is a squeeze on. Before, help came faster and lasted longer."

Paul Jenkinson, the chair of the BC Association of Social Workers' child welfare committee, confirms Linton's observations. "Look at how much was cut from the budget, and how much was spent on devolution to community governance," a total he reckons is in the order of $250 million. "You could get a lot of family outreach workers for those dollars that were cut," he says. 

It remains unknown, however, whether any of the welter of investigations into Cody Fontaine's death will actually look at the relationship between tight budgets and his tragic death.

Ministry report 'won't be available'

Jeremy Berland, the assistant deputy minister of MCFD declined to speak specifically about the Cody Fontaine case, but told The Tyee that whenever a child dies, "we always review those circumstances."  Ministry investigators scrutinize calls received about the family, what services were provided, whether a child taken from a home was returned with appropriate family supports, and what kind of risk-reduction plan was in place, he said. 

The results of the internal investigation are confidential, Berland said, because they "will contain a lot of personal information about the family. We will make the recommendations and a kind of synopsis of the findings public. But the whole report won't be available."

Berland rejected any suggestion that a ministry investigation lacks sufficient independence to uncover systemic problems, such as the amount of services available to families, or the delivery of them.

"The fact that something happens doesn't mean, necessarily, something went wrong, and I think that we have to get away from the perspective that the only way to satisfy our grief about the death of a child is to conduct multiple inquiries," Berland said. "It's not, it doesn't help, it doesn't change the fact that these are very, very rare circumstances."

Coroner 'not a fault finding agency'

The Coroner's office, an independent body answering to the Attorney General, will investigate Cody Fontaine's death. Assistant deputy chief coroner Lisa Lapointe said a local coroner will investigate the circumstances of his death, assisted by personnel from the Child Death Review unit, ensuring "that if there are systemic issues, they are identified."  Recommendations to avoid future deaths form a key part of the coroner's report, but "the coroner's office is not a fault-finding agency," Lapointe noted. 

Lapointe said 80 percent of coroner's recommendations are accepted by the relevant agencies and government departments, but the coroner's office does not monitor whether or not these are actually implemented.  Even if a coroner believed a crucial recommendation was not being acted on, "the coroner doesn't advocate for changes because the coroner is in a quasi-judicial role." 

Until two years ago, B.C. had an independent Children's Commissioner who reviewed all cases of child deaths, natural, accidental, and criminal. "The coroner's report was one ingredient in what we looked at, but we also looked at things like systemic issues," the last commissioner, Paul Pallan, told The Tyee recently. Levels of government service, policies, and social work practices all came under Pallan's scrutiny in connection with a child death.  Any recommendations made by his office were monitored to ensure that they were acted on. "I personally had a high degree of commitment to it," he said. 

The Children's Commission Act gave the commissioner broad powers to investigate "the adequacy of services to the child or to examine public health and policy matters," conduct audits, made recommendations, review and resolve public complaints, educate the public and professionals, as well as to comment on matters of public policy.  Pallan said the scope of his investigations supplied him with hard data—ensuring that his advocacy on particular issues was grounded in solid evidence.

Rise and fall of Children's Commission

The Children's Commission was created in response to the Gove Inquiry into the death of Matthew Vaudreuil at the age of five, after a life of abuse and neglect—even though he and his mother were well-known to welfare authorities.  Justice Thomas Gove's  report was unanimously adopted by both the NDP government and the Liberal opposition; chief among his recommendations was the creation of a children's commissioner.

Gove made it clear that the commissioner should "comment publicly if the child welfare system does not respond adequately to a death or serious injury review."  Not a position for the feint of heart, the children's commissioner was charged with scrutinizing the work of politicians, bureaucrats, and social workers.  Being under the spotlight of the children's commission rankled some, Pallan says, "but to be fair, people who were mature and responsible in their roles accepted that." 

The Children's Commission was eliminated in 2002, just as the first wave of cuts hit the ministry.  A core services review by Jane Morley called for wholesale changes to the office, including removing its ability to investigate critical injuries, recommending policy changes on the basis of investigations of deaths and critical injuries, as well as audits of care plans; reviewing the circumstances of child deaths; investigating complains about services to children, among many others.  Jane Morley, who conducted the review, wrote, "I recommend that a part of the Children's Commission child fatality review function be transferred to the Coroner's office." 

In contrast to the practice of the Children's Commissioner, "the inquiry of the coroner need not include considering and commenting on services provided during the life of the child that were not causally connected to the child's death."  Morley also proposed having the ministry assume control of advocacy functions, aided by a children's officer who could "provide another, above the battle perspective." 

"Theoretically, that's not a bad position to take," Pallan said.  "The problem sometimes is that the system itself hasn't got to the point yet where it can be fully transparent and fully accountable, the way we would like it to be."

Jenkinson, of the BCSWA, mourns the loss of the Children's Commission, saying "the reports written were quite vigorous and challenging."  And it appears Gove did as well.  After the commission closed, and on the date of what would have been Matthew Vaudreil's 16th birthday, Oct. 3, 2002, Gove wrote to the Vancouver Sun.  "Who will do the comprehensive reviews of the deaths of children now that the Children's Commissioner has gone?  Who will independently advocate for children and youth without the Child Youth and Family Advocate?  Does our society have the resolve to prevent another Matthew?"

The position of Child and Youth Officer for B.C. was established last year, with Morley at its helm.  She is confident the coroner's report and an internal ministry review will root out any systemic inadequacies that may have led to Cody Fontaine's death.  Although the Attorney-General could ask her to specifically investigate it, she says her position is not, "primarily an investigative role."

'Never enough money'  

According to the website of the Child and Youth Officer Morley's mandate is "to comment publicly on issues affecting children and youth without interference from any ministry or from the premier and cabinet."  It is unclear, however, whether she will assess the effect of recent budget cuts on services for children and youth.  In her most recent annual report, Stay the Course, Morley notes, "Sufficient resources are a prerequisite for an effective service delivery system.  Yet there is never enough money to fund health education and welfare needs, including the needs of child welfare systems. This is the case not only in British Columbia, but also in the rest of Canada, North America and most of the world."

Although Morley said that she attempts "as much as possible to know what's going on in terms of services," the effects of losses to MCFD's budget over the past three years, are not the tack she's taking. "My view is that the most effective way that you're going to bring about effective, responsive services is at the community level, and that it is important to make sure that communities have resources that they need in order to do that," she said.  "But I don't think it's just a question of money.  I think it's a question of what are the best services and what are the best ways that they are to be organized."

Gordon Campbell in 1996

When Cody Fontaine was mauled to death, the premier was on vacation in Hawaii.  He has not yet commented on the incident, and his office referred The Tyee to MCFD for comment.  But when he was a member of the Opposition, Gordon Campbell unstintingly hammered on the issue of child deaths and the need for comprehensive, independent investigations of the model Gove proposed.  On Thursday afternoon July 25, 1996, he was particularly fiery. 

"Justice Gove was very clear. Justice Gove, hon. Speaker, said quite clearly that the death of every single child known to the minister or in the care of the ministry should be investigated promptly. It should be investigated in a way that we would be sure that it's thorough, so that we understand what's going on. I would just like to quote from the commission's report:

"Matthew's suffering and death was not unique. Many other children living in similar circumstances, known to the ministry through a child protection report or a request for services but not in the ministry's care, have died of unnatural causes. Some were killed by caregivers or other family members, some died in suspicious circumstances and some took their own lives.... They... are the 'invisible ones.' They died of abuse or neglect, alone and in obscurity."

On this side of the House, we agree that we should do everything we possibly can to prevent those occurrences from taking place -- every single thing. When a child dies, we should investigate. We should investigate independently. Again, Justice Gove was very clear on what he expected to take place -- what he said should take place and what has not taken place eight months after his report being tabled. He said quite clearly that a body should be established which will receive every report of a critical incident -- children who die or are seriously injured -- which should include any children who are in the care of the ministry or otherwise known to the ministry through a protection report or a request for services. Deaths and serious injury reviews should proceed promptly and should be coordinated with other investigations or proceedings.

The minister stood today and told us he is working with the coroner. Hon. speaker, we're not questioning the expertise of the coroner, but let's go back and look again at what we heard about review mechanisms external to the ministry. The coroner is specifically referred to on page 136 of Justice Gove's report. The coroner is no substitute for reviews. In 1993, 535 children in British Columbia age 19 or under died. The coroner, acting under section 9 of the Coroners Act, examined 312 of those deaths. In Matthew Vaudreuil's case, the report was a one-page report from the coroner."

Judith Ince is on staff of The Tyee. [Tyee]

40 Comments:

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  • KJ (not verified)

    7 years ago

    "Sufficient resources are a prerequisite for an effective service delivery system. Yet there is never enough money to fund health education and welfare needs, including the needs of child welfare systems. This is the case not only in British Columbia, but also in the rest of Canada, North America and most of the world." - Jane Morely, Stay the Course

    What a crock! This is yet again another lowering of the bar (re: expectations) in civil society, all in the name of "budget constraints," "efficiencies," and yadda yadda.

    The pattern goes something like this: argue that services/principles/practices/etc aren't as comprehensive/higher/extensive "over there" therefore they don't need to be any higher here. Meanwhile, when it comes to renumerating society's elite, i.e. CEOs, deputy ministers, etc, then the argument is reversed and we need to compete for their attention with equal or higher than usual disbursements.

    G. Campbell is a script reader, an actor, and a very bad one at that. Come this May, he should be given a Razzie for his terrible tenure.

  • Richard Bell (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Just as Socred Grace MacCarthy, Socred Minister of Human Remains in the 1980s did, this Campbell Liberal bunch has a policy of leaving children in families no matter how dangerous it is to the kids. Just as Gracie did, they will be stacking kids bodies up like cord wood. Its all about reducing the size of government so the "big boys" (yes they are all boys)can keep more of the lucre. RB

  • Ron (not verified)

    7 years ago

    A full investigation is warranted, but I rather doubt that the recommendations will (or can) be that children should be automatically removed from homes where there are dangerous dogs or the mother has a history of drug use and criminality. That's what you're saying, Richard.

  • Puffer (not verified)

    7 years ago

    They'll probably discover the mother was a smoker, too.

  • Dawn Steele (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Great article, Judith and KJ, you zeroed in on the core problem--the handy, all-purpose excuse that can justify every budget cut, every de-fanged watchdog and every failure of government, i.e. that "...there is never enough money to fund health, education and welfare needs." Oddly enough, there was apparently more than enough money--a $2 billion surplus at last count. There was also enough to give away hundreds of millions annually in tax cuts for our wealthiest citizens & for salary increases for doctors and teachers, tens or perhaps hundreds of millions to waste on Doug Walls' restructuring boondoggle (Yes, and Premier Campbell is still holding the course on that stunning example of fiscal competence...), billions for the 2010 Olympics & for RAV. It has nothing to do with whether we have enough money or not, it's all about priorities and what we as British Columbians care or don't care about. The boys in Victoria are clearly more interested in playing Zoom-zoom than taking care of kids and other vulnerable citizens--are they simply reflecting what the rest of us think or not?

  • Jim (not verified)

    7 years ago

    We all know this has never happened under any other government. So we can defiantly lay all the blame on Gordon Campbell and Gordon Campbell only. In a bureaucracy there will always be people who fall through the cracks. Sad yes, but an inescapable reality. So Doodle, you are laying a heavy charge out there. What evidence do you have to support that? To accuse someone of sexually assaulting their children is a serious charge and not something you bring up without some solid evidence.

  • Jacko (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Uh, Jim, what particular article and/or set of comments are you reading? I'm sure this must be the fault of some glitch in the Tyee's system, since your comments are a complete non sequitur to the above...On second thought, since you're obviously a Gordo-ite, it's clearly the fault of the former NDP government, like everything else...

  • Fi (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Even the writer of this article couldn't help but sensationalize/embellish a little on the dog angle "in the jaws of the family dogs"... were you there? I read that one of the family dogs was a Collie; I wasn't there either, of course, but I somehow highly doubt the Collie participated- the two visiting Rotties were trained guard dogs, had been locked up for who-knows-how-long, and were in pack mentality. The "family" dogs probably tried to protect the boy. I don't know, just my guess.

  • Paul Willcocks (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Excellent article, raising important questions. In many ways this has been the Liberals' most serious betrayal. In opposition Campbell was absolutely clear in calling for more money for the ministry and an end to restructuring, and in lauding the work of the Children's Commissioner. In government he has recklessly - and incompetently - cut the budget, botched another re-organization and reduced independent oversight.

  • bk (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Actually, Fi, it was a Border Collie according to the photos and the CTV report (CTV seems to have less biased coverage than other local media, so I personally am more inclined to believe their account). According to this report the border collie had actually been declared a dangerous dog for having bitten twice before. You can only speculate on which dog did what, and we will never know for sure. What I would like to know is how a parent could possibly sleep through a fatal mauling. That in itself is indicative of a major problem in the family.

  • Tom Fletcher (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Wow, I came back to see if things had improved here and it's strictly downhill. First, the deceased's name was Cody Anger. Second, I'm not one to defend social workers as a rule, but in this case I'm happy to. Let's just say that those who have independent information about this case aren't blaming the social workers or Gordon Campbell, which is what this site is funded to do on every issue. This is not the kind of situation that's going to be rectified by your beloved NDP getting into office again. And no surprise, Willcocks is as out to lunch as the Tyee braintrust.

  • George (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Scandalous behavior by the government and the Canwest empire. Remember the Matthew Vaudreill (sp?) case? Every day for months, by numerous reporters, the story was kept alive. Since it's a right wing government, Cody's tragic story gets a mention but eyes become blind.

  • lewis swift (not verified)

    7 years ago

    You're absolutely right, George, I recall very well how the sun, provinvce and other newspapers kept the story alive for months. Of course, this will bother neither Jim, who would defend child molestation by the premier, or, Mr Fletcher whose paper is simply canwest lies in miniature. Is fletcher perhaps annoyed that jon ferry, the reactionary english "journalist" was appointed chief of the province's editorial page? No probably not, he;s obviously a fan of hate speech, like that practised by jon ferry and the province newspaper... Interesting to see Fletcher attack Willcocks, who I've said many times before is a past master at praising by faint damnation, to invert the cliche. Why, every time I read one of Mr Willcocks' columns it's "Give Gordon Campbell credit for this, give Gordon Campbell credit for that..." or "Gee, things could be much worse...(presumably under an ndp government...)

    Far more important than determining which breed of dog did what is the question left unasked by the article: Did Cody's presence in the basement have anything to do with the continuing, ongoing $100 a month cut to the food budgets of families on welfare?? (Even as the bc liars have received $1.2 Billion in FEDERAL WELFARE MONEY, BECAUSE BC WAS A FAILED ECONOMY FROM 2001 to 2003.) WAs Cody looking for food, perhaps, dogfood, stored in the basement, because of the $100 a month cut?? Dry dog food tastes a lot like cereal, as many a BC pensioner has discovered, in this marvellous "new era" we are currently enduring. The Ince typo above "feint of heart," is an interesting synchronicity, or perhaps freudian slip, as it is a very good description of what bc liberals and their supporters do, when they try and convince the rest of us, that they actually HAVE hearts...

  • beyond hope (not verified)

    7 years ago

    oh for the old days of reporters doggin our politicians on any number of issues, this is a tragedy of the exteme and yes every childs death should and must be investigated, mr campbell !stop giving out huge saleries to ceo's and various exec's and start funding our schools and families and the social fabric of our province, if we are doing so great and more people are moving here why is another round of school closures about to take place, name the community im sure there's one near you, yet another case of yet another minister Not being responsible for whatever has happened, ive said before, your jobs been cut or your wages your schools are closed, my tax cut was about 11.00 every check, but my day to day costs of livng have tripled it seems the old grow op is looking pretty good when your hungry and cold, and the job your holding down pays 8-9$ an hr.. poverty drives many to the extreme investiagte!

  • Jamie Brennan (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Ah, yes, Jane Morley, the same woman who helped dump the Legal Services Society Board when they refused to cut their budget and services. She seems to turn up when the Campbell government needs a lapdog apologist. "Stay the Course", indeed! We need a truly independent commissioner who will not shy away from the tough sledding and challenge government and bureaucrats. There is enough money, just cancel a few highway contracts on the Sea to Sky.

  • allan (not verified)

    7 years ago

    A good piece Judith. And lots of linked detail for the curious. I agree with Paul Wilcox that Campbell has done a 180 since moving from opposition to government on this issue, but then, he's been shown to take that approach to things on numerous occassions, and we're all paying for it.*** Hey, Tom Fletcher, welcome back to The Tyee. We knew you were just kidding when you threatened to not darken our doorstep again. And you've still got a sense of humour with your adament claim the NDP has the May election tied up already. Oh, hey Tom, why don't you share some of that "independant information" about the above case with us? I thought this article was based on independent information. Do you mean there are other bits of independent information floating around as well, yet you, a journalist, are only hinting at what it is? Judith Ince has given us the WHAT, plus the other Ws we've come to rely on here at The Tyee. Sadly, it's becoming a rarity in this 'fill-the hole-above-the-ads' world of journalism.

  • sb (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Guess what Tom Fletcher and folks, Cody is not the only child to have died who was known and neglected by the Ministry of Children.However Jane Morley and journalistic Liberal apologists are not interested and do not care.They dismiss these concerns with the label that it is NDP malingering instead of actually finding out what the 360 million in social service cuts, including 70 million this year have done to the system. And God help you if you need to challenge an eviction notice by an unscrupulous landlord if you live in Surrey or Vancouver or any place where you have to travel to file for arbitration. This also affects kids and the list goes on and on when you look into daycare subsisdies, special needs daycare programs.However the hypocrites are pushing literacy programs without funding or supports.The truth is apparently upseting to people like Tom Fletcher.

  • Ria (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Tom, I'm curious - are you the same Tom Fletcher who edits the Maple Ridge News? I live out in that area and there are a lot of rumours floating around from all the people who knew somebody who knew the family and that kind of thing. The story everybody seems to have heard via the grapevine (but that nobody can substantiate) is that the woman and her boyfriend were passed out and that the attack on the child likely took place the night before and they didn't wake up. My personal POV is that the government finally did the right thing by taking the other kids away, albeit too little too late. There are far too many cases of the ministry letting stuff like this go on until tragedy hits - and this has been happening through several different governments, not just the Liberals or the NDP. In the final analysis, laying blame isn't going to bring this kid back, but it might save some others in similar situations.

  • Tom Fletcher (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Ria, I've heard the rumours too. I tried to respond to that but the site administrators removed my post. It seems that freedom of speech on this site is related to whether you agree with the sponsors. Yes, the mother and her boyfriend were asleep when the attack occurred; at least that's what they told police. There may have been someone else awake in the home but the investigation continues as the RCMP like to say.

  • Kali Advocacy Project (not verified)

    7 years ago

    This is a real tragedy in so many ways, the bickering of some of you is so ridiculous & disrespectful. This is a tragedy for Cody, for his siblings and his parents, including his mother, whose grief will never be understood except by a parent such as herself, who has had a rough and tragic life, no doubt & wishes with every ounce of her being she could go back in time. High-risk families will always exist. Children will tragically die. This tragedy has happened, in part, because the Liberal government is making abuse & neglect of children as invisible as it can. It is changing the way risk, or vulnerabilities are assessed in families. It is cutting services to support children and families in the community. People like Jane Morley are helping. She used to have a reputation as an effective and ethical legal advocate. No longer, she presided over the core review, recommending the dissolution of the Children's Commission and the Child & Youth Advocate and was then sworn in as the Children's Officer. There is a core corruption in MCFD and the organization is clearly being run by Treasury Board. Other people within the organization, who were once experienced and ethical practitioners, are now ass-kissing ambitious and sickening hypocrits, who have sold their souls, because they don't work on the front line & really see what is happening to the children, youth & families this system is supposed to support and help. There are many, many good SW's left in this system, dedicated to their work with children, youth & families. They are being eaten alive by what the work consists of now, as well as the organizational chaos, the challenge of being ethical practitioners in a broken system. Children are dying & most stories are not making it into the media. Since some members of the media read this site, please help make this more visible. BC Coroner's Service clearly reports that for infants under age 1, each year since 2000 the infant mortality rate has risen. No child death reports have been completed, or released publically since the year 2000. Where is the openness and accountability there? Check out the stats yourself: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/coroners/statistics/index.htm

  • lewis swift (not verified)

    7 years ago

    I repeat the advocacy spokesman for children of the poor has been replaced by THE CORONER'S OFFICE, while pond scum like tom fletcher propagandize for the bc backstabbers...my apologies for the disrespect shown -to the diarhettic vulture...

  • allan (not verified)

    7 years ago

    I guess I'm going to have to get a copy of the latest Maple Ridge News to learn what is going on in government services these days. Perhaps the rumour-chasing editor of that pro-government ad-wrapping will give us the latest facts on this sad case, based on what he has heard on the streets of Maple Ridge. Sorry, but I prefer my facts to come from sources a bit closer to the issue and from one who hasn't already outlined his (biased) distain for the NDP, unions and whole sectors of this province. ***Kali Advocacy Project, please keep us informed.

  • lisa (not verified)

    7 years ago

    It is not only this child. Three young children have died at the hands of their mothers during the Campbell's gov't. Before these Neo-Conservatives came to power those women would have been red flagged at the hospital by the staff and the ministry involved. Three deaths at the hand of their mother's is outrageous and no coincidence. If one reads Neo-Conservative policy from the US on child protection one finds arguments for not intervening and for leaving children in homes of desperate poverty where rats are running around the home etc. These are who these people are.

  • anne cameron (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Campbell's stinginess and mean spirited punitive policies have exacerbated a pre-existing problem. The NDP did not do a much better job of child protection. I truly believe this is because most -- but not all -- of the children in dire need of protection are the children of the poor, the less educated, and those with pre-existing social problems. For all those words read "disposable".

    Most social workers I have met (and I have met many!) are dedicated people with hearts which have cracked because the bureaucracy stands between them and the kids they want to help. The mandate of the Ministry is the reunification of the family, even in those places where "family" is the worst thing that can happen to the kid. The treatment given foster parents in this province is absolutely disgusting. Foster moms, and often foster dads, KNOW these kids better than someone, however well trained, who might see the kid for half an hour a month. Is the foster parent every TRULY consulted? Oh, it all reads well, it all sounds great, there are conferences and get-togethers and meetings and phone calls but almost all the time the decision is made with no regard for the input from the fostering parent. Kids are moved, kids are returned, kids are hauled around and treated like collateral and the foster parent can accept it or be dropped from the list. The stereotype is that foster parents do it for money. Duh. Wrong! There isn't enough money to repay someone for the demands, 24-7, fostering places on a parent, on a family.

    Year after year sucessive governments pay lip service, they change the name of the Ministry, they transfer people around , they fiddle and fart and dither and service is diminished steadily. This kid died because the system sucks goats big time. He will not be the last. Every bit as tragic, every bit as heartbreaking are the hundreds of kids who are being dicked around in such a way they are never going to be able to be "contributing citizens". They will be another generation of "supernumerary population". They will go from juvenile court to reform school to young offenders unit to prison, they will develop alcohol and drug problems, they will have children of their own who will fall through the gaping cracks... we will all write the same words thirty years from now...because the flat out truth of it is most people don't want to know and when they find out they look to "blame", and that blame is too often focused on the already victimized.

    As sad as this particular case is, it isn't the only one and won't be the last. How many times do underfunded or even volunteer street workers have to report that there are eleven year old hookers living in abandoned cars in Vancouver? And how many times will we ALL ignore what this so obviously means. If a life such as that is better than life at home..what is it like at home? Politicians are well paid, they live warm and comfortable, they can SAY whatever they want but their actions tell us they just don't give a shit about these kids. Or, it would seem, any other kids. If they cared even one whit there would be nutritious meals in school, there would be decent day care, there would be more and better funded fostering services. It's all a case of mind over matter..those fat cat fucks don't mind and the rest of us (and our children and grandchildren) don't matter. This little guy is out of the mess. Remember what Long John Silver said "Them as what dies are the lucky ones"........

  • MikeS (not verified)

    7 years ago

    I worked for MCFD till my retirement a few years ago. It was my observation that NO government was willing to put forward the resources needed to address child protection. The Child Welfare League of America (to which BC is a subscriber)has established guidelines around the maximum number of cases a social worker can manage without becoming ineffective due to overload. B.C. social worker caseloads have always been two to four times larger than those standards. It also used to amaze me that, if a child did die or was severely abused while under the purview of the Miistry, many more resources were allocated to investigating the work of the staff than were ever avsilable to DO that work in the first place. I have no problem with workers being held accountable, but when governments refuse to provide sufficient resources, then blame the workers if things go wrong, I do have a problem. Sadly, whatever the political stripe of the government, this never seems to change. Deaths of children are merely a tool for media and opposition politicians to slam the government of the day, not the real, terrible tragedies they actually are.

  • Tyee editor (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Lewis Swift: You are taking up the Tyee editor's valuable time by repeatedly posting vitriolic and/or potentially defamatory statements on this site, which we are forced to seek out an delete. You have been asked repeatedly to engage in civil discussion here. I have no energy to debate this in this thread or any other (as in past instances), and won't. The next time you do this, The Tyee will establish a policy of deleting your comments as a matter of course, no matter their content. You will have made yourself unwelcome to a site that attracts readers because of the hard work and effort of its journalistic contributors, and the civil and thoughtful posts of the large majority of its readers. We have worked too hard to make The Tyee what it is to have you abuse this space, tarnish this site, and expose this enterprise to legal risk.

  • anne cameron (not verified)

    7 years ago

    I don't believe that the tyee editor wrote the above. Lewis has been quite restrained in regard to this issue. I suspect "tyee editor" is just another hide-behind name for some of the usual bletherers who indulge in deliberate b.s.

  • malissa (not verified)

    7 years ago

    i feel you all should not judge a book by its cover, as for i feel thats what you have done to sherry whom has been a devoted and loving mother and like an aunt to myself for many years! if you all knew her like i do then maybe you would have a lot more nicer things to say about her but you dont know her, and thats your loss.

  • Barbra Harmes (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Sherry was like a daughter to me! I took the time to get to know her, and love her dearly, she was and is devoted to her children, as any mother was or is! She worked / works so hard to give her children a good life, once again as any mother would / does! She loves Cody more them would could say, and due to her past you are all going to say it’s her fault but if she didn’t have a past would you blame her then? as for if you were to turn around and look at your past, How many of you could say your a good mother seeing how your trying to say she is an unfit mother what would that make half of you, does that mean are you unfit then too? But let me guess your answer is NO; it was or is different but really is it or is it just in your head that you’re any better! as for in mine you are no better then Sherry, myself, or any mother for that sake... me as a mother I have made my share of bad choices but that doesn't mean I didn't love my children or care about their well being! In fact I made allot of bad choices but the only way you can grow as a person is to learn from your mistakes!

  • CS (not verified)

    7 years ago

    While it is true what Barbra Harmes says, that the only way you can grow as a person is to learn from your mistakes, unfortunately you might drag your children through that process as well. They are not meant to pay for your mistakes with their own lives, and when endangering them is part of your growing up process, then it is not fair to expect the rest of us to turn a blind eye until you get yourself together. By then it might be too late for those children.

  • anne cameron (not verified)

    7 years ago

    I think the overwhelming majority of comments are critical of the Ministry, not of the mother who obviously has many deeply-rooted problems. However many people are fond of the mother, however many love her, the fact remains this child is dead.

  • ,,,,, (not verified)

    7 years ago

    When the NDP were in power we had endless hate-filled columns from Trevor Lautens in Canwest about how the entire NDP caucus should resign, and THE NDP hadn't gutted the Ministry of Families and Children, (or had it milked like a CASH COW by the premier's brother,) or replaced the advocate for abused and possibly murdered children with the CORONER'S OFFICE.) If you closely you can hear the DEAFENING SILENCE from Canwest's COWARDLY refusal to reort on this issue at ALL...

  • '''''' (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Excuse me, I meant to say Trevor Lauten's columns opining endlessly about how the NDP should resign in regard to the tragic death of Mathew Vaudrille (sp?)...

  • doodle (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Okay, I'll phrase this to minimize spincter-tightening by the editors: In a not so far north town, an rcmp constable confessed to his detatchment that he was having sexual relations with under-age females, especially a 14 year old Ward of the Government. The Detatchment investigated, confirmed the confession, and decided to transfer him to Campbell River. They were not going to lay charges. It wasn't until Child Welfare auhtorities banned the Constable from contact with any Child Welfare kids that the RCMP decided to forward criminal charges. So who do we expect to protect our kids when our constables are allowed to behave this way, and the brass treis to cover it by opting for a geogrpahical cure? If any of you intrepid "journalists" want to follow this up, contact me.

  • anne cameron (not verified)

    7 years ago

    So why isn't HIS picture on every phone pole? Why isn't HE standing trial for sexual abuse of a minor?

  • hombre (not verified)

    7 years ago

    When I think of Rich Coleman's ties to the mounties, his ultra-conservative philosophies, inclufding anti-abortion, coupled with the fact that he could be BC's next premier, I feel a lot of trepidation. The record of the mounties in Canada, beating strikers during the great depression, tappping phones about as long as there have been phones, often without permission of the courts , CSIS foul-ups etc, is highly disturbing.

  • grandma (not verified)

    7 years ago

    re: cody anger< cody is gone but he will always be in my heart someone or something is to blame for this tragedy? WHO? government/ adults or animals? somebody should be accountable for this tradedy: :I love you cody- grandma: animals only know what they are taught by the people. in my mind there are alot of questions

  • grandma (not verified)

    7 years ago

    re: cody anger< cody is gone but he will always be in my heart someone or something is to blame for this tragedy? WHO? government/ adults or animals? somebody should be accountable for this tradedy: :I love you cody- grandma: animals only know what they are taught by the people. in my mind there are alot of questions

  • Cousin-Serena Anger (not verified)

    7 years ago

    Cody was my cousin and i loved him like a brother.I Dont know who to blame this on,but whoever it is to blame they should be very guiltly for my baby cousins death.Who ever is responsable for Codys death does not deserve to be alive today.Codys death was a great tragedy.Cody John Anger I Love You May You Rest In Peace.

  • ALLYSHA - COUSIN (not verified)

    7 years ago

    When I found out.. that my little cousin Cody was mauled just 2 days after Christmas... I was devasted and still am to this day. I have many questions, and wonder why this would happen to such an innocent little boy, a family member, a sibling and whoever is to blame, I hope they feel guilty.
    Cody, I love you, I hope you are safe up above.XoXo<3

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