Government Responds to Coroner's Inquest Recommendations

Released on May 7, 2015

The Government of Saskatchewan has released a detailed action plan outlining next steps to further strengthen the child welfare system and improve services and supports for the province’s most vulnerable families and their children.  These actions are in response to the jury recommendations coming out of the public inquest called by the Office of the Chief Coroner into the 2013 death of Lee Allan Bonneau.

“We want to once again extend our condolences to both families and their communities and commend them for the strength they have shown throughout this process,” Social Services Minister Donna Harpauer said.  “This has been a difficult but necessary process to help us ensure that we are doing all we can to better serve the children and youth in our care.”

Two weeks of testimony took place to examine the circumstances around the death of Lee Allan Bonneau.  The jury made 19 recommendations to the Ministry of Social Services, the Yorkton Tribal Council Child and Family Services and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

“I would like to thank the jury for their work on this Inquest process,” Harpauer said.  “The jury’s findings and recommendations will help further the significant progress we have made in the past few years in improving the safety and well-being of the vulnerable children and youth in our care.”

This work follows a 2014 report on the same case by the Advocate for Children and Youth that contained 23 findings and 18 recommendations.  In the final progress report to the Advocate, which was also released today, the Government of Saskatchewan reports 13 of 18 recommendations as having been completed.  Work is ongoing to complete the final five that are in progress.

“We have been working very closely with Yorkton Tribal Council Child and Family Services to make the necessary changes to improve service delivery both on and off reserve,” Harpauer said.  “We look forward to continuing our work with our partner First Nations agencies as well as police services, and health and education service providers to strengthen our policies, processes and services.”

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For more information, contact:

Leya Moore
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-3610
Email: leya.moore@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-519-7835