REPORT TO COUNCIL

VANCOUVER FAMILY COURT/YOUTH JUSTICE COMMITTEE

JULY 28, 1999

RECOMMENDATION

1. Child and Youth Advocate Position

The Vancouver Family Court/Youth Justice Committee is appointed by City Council under the auspices of the Provincial Court Act and the Young Offenders Act. The Committee's mandate is to examine services in the community for families and children, young offenders and youth at risk.

At its meeting of July 28, 1999, the Committee reviewed an Administrative Report dated July 22, 1999, dealing with the position of Child and Youth Advocate. The Committee apologizes for the late submission of this report to Council, but notes that the report was only released to the public on Friday, July 23. Therefore, the July 28 meeting was the Committee's first and only opportunity to review the City Manager's recommendations before the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment meeting scheduled for July 29.

The Committee does not believe this time frame provided adequate opportunity for thorough review and response to recommendations of this significance. For example, the Committee would have appreciated an opportunity to obtain clarification of the City Manager's rationale for her recommendations, but did not have time to follow up its July 28 meeting with overtures to the City Manager. The Committee believes other organizations would share this concern, particularly during the summer when so many people, especially youths, are away

Following discussion of this matter, the Committee unanimously passed the following motion:

THAT members Sadie Kuehn and Jean Moore make a presentation to the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment to express the Family Court/Youth Justice Committee's concerns that:

· the position of Child and Youth Advocate will lose its autonomy;
· children and youth will lose their voice in the City;
· the loss of the advocacy role is viewed with grave concern;
· although the position's mandate is too broad for any one individual to meet everyone's expectations adequately, the proposed change to a social planner position is not a reasonable solution to some key questions such as the issues about age range and voice;

AND THAT as many members as possible attend in support of the presentation.

Ms. Kuehn and Ms. Moore will appear at the Standing Committee meeting to more fully represent the Committee's position.

The following motions A and B of the Committee were carried unanimously. The Family Court/Youth Justice Committee

RECOMMENDS

A. THAT City Council defer the matter of the Child and Youth Advocate position until the first meeting in the Fall, at the earliest, in order to provide adequate time for notification of and considered response by a wider group of stakeholders.

Should Council not approve Recommendation A, the Committee

RECOMMENDS

B. THAT children and youth having a strong voice in the City be supported, and therefore, that City Council maintain the position of Child and Youth Advocate.

"Anthony Williams"
CO-CHAIR

CITY MANAGER'S COMMENTS:

Regarding Recommendation A, the City Manager notes that during the public consultation phase of this project, stakeholders were made aware of the intention to bring this matter before City Council prior to the summer break, in line with the Advocate's term which expires in August.

Regarding Recommendation B, the City Manager's views are expressed in the Administrative Report dated July 22, 1999.

The City Manager RECOMMENDS that the foregoing Recommendations A and B NOT be approved.

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(c) 1998 City of Vancouver