Manitoba children’s advocate notified of 166 deaths over year

WINNIPEG – The Manitoba children’s advocate says her office was notified of 166 child deaths from April 2013 to March 2014.

Darlene MacDonald told a legislative committee on Tuesday that her office reviewed many of the cases.

Three areas need improvement, she said.

There needs to be better access to mental health services, children need to be protected from sexual exploitation and children’s rights in general need better protection, she said.

A specific plan of action will be announced early in the new year, MacDonald said.