WINNIPEG – A grieving family confronted officials at the Manitoba Legislature Thursday, but still has no answers about how their baby boy died in Child and Family Services care.
Child welfare workers seized Matias de Antonia from his mother Maria Herriera shortly after he was born February 24th. The child died a month later, while in the care of CFS. Police say they investigated the death and found no basis to lay charges. But the family says they’ve been left in the dark about what happened.
Late Thursday family met with the NDP government’s Family Services minister, Kerri Irvin-Ross as well as officials from CFS.
“Staff explained how we are going to move forward with an investigation and made a committment that there will be weekly contact with the family so they know what steps have been taken and what direction we are going,” said Irvin-Ross following the meeting she described as very emotional.
That isn’t good enough for Matias’ family.
“She (Irvin-Ross) said she will help us to get the answers but at this point we have no answers,” said Burgos.”We still need answers because we didn’t get any answers,” said Burgos.
The province said details surrounding the case cannot be released because an investigation into the death is underway.
“I was calling them and they were saying you know what, I have nothing to do with this case, call this person,” said Carlos Burgos, Matias’ uncle. “I would call that person and they said I am sorry I have nothing to do with this case call this other person.”
The family initially planned to meet Thursday only with members of the opposition Progressive Conservative party.
“The problem with not knowing, the uncertainty factor is a huge element in this and the sooner we could resolve that the better,” said Ian Wishart, the PC Family Services critic.
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