Carol Chafe to ask premier for mandatory reporting of child deaths

The Advocate for Children and Youth says she will make her case for mandatory reporting of child deaths and other critical incidents directly to the new premier.

Carol Chafe learned earlier this week that a second search of provincial records found nine more deaths of children on the case load of Child, Youth and Family Services.

• More child deaths disclosed in government review
• 26 children died while under province's protection since 2009

That number is in addition to the 26 that CBC News reported in August, following a request made under access-to-information legislation.

Chafe said she's in the process of preparing documentation for premier-designate Paul Davis, explaining why her office needs government to make changes to its legislation.

The recommended change would mean Chafe would be automatically notified of all deaths of children receiving government services, from any department.

"If I'm here, which I am, to be the representative of children and youth in Newfoundland and Labrador and the goal is that I ensure that they receive services that they need, and that their voices are heard and their rights protected, I can't do that if I don't have the full information," said Chafe.

Chafe said she's also seeking to be notified of any critical incidents, as well, including violence, injury, neglect or abuse.

She said if she can't get these changes made to the legislation, she will be unable to fulfill her mandate to represent every child in the province, and instead would be representing only those she hears about.