Parents of dead teen say MCFD hiding behind privacy laws

It’s been weeks since Global News first reported on the case of Nick Lang, a 15-year-old boy who died just six days after being placed in government care.

Minister of Children and Family Development Stephanie Cadieux says the recommendations in a report looking into Lang’s death are sound and will be implemented. However, Cadieux hasn’t read the report, which was conducted by former ministry worker Stephen Howell, because a court order prevents her from seeing it.

Lang’s parents want details of the report to come to light, but it’s illegal for Peter Lang and Linda Tenpas to go public about anything in it, because it would violate the Child, Family and Community Service Act.

They say they think the government is hiding behind privacy laws given that their son is dead.

After speaking to the media last month, Peter Lang says he received a letter from the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) warning that his son’s privacy rights were breached by Peter speaking out about his son’s case.

READ MORE: B.C. premier apologizes for letter to family of dead teen

Speaking to Global News, Cadieux said “the law doesn’t change in terms of who can release what information when the child has died.”

Lang’s parents say they are tired of the secrecy and demand an independent public inquiry.

“We need this to get out,” said Peter Lang. “There’s so much the public doesn’t know about this ministry because they hide behind privacy.”

B.C.’s Representative for Children and Youth, Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, told Global News she was shocked with the contents of the Howell report, adding there may have been some records that were destroyed.

Turpel-Lafond said there needs to be a full independent investigation conducted by her office.

-With files from Rumina Daya and Justin McElroy