REGINA – Saskatchewan’s children’s advocate says two-thirds of First Nations children in Saskatchewan are living in poverty.
Bob Pringle also says there are more children in care and the number of kids using food banks is the highest in Canada.
Pringle says in his annual report that he is concerned with the little amount of progress the government has made over the last 1 1/2 years.
He says the province has slowed down social services initiatives.
Social Services Minister Donna Harpauer says the government is working to make children a priority with projects such as its poverty reduction strategy.
Pringle says the ministry can’t guarantee the safety of children in foster homes because there are problems with case management and planning.
“We had a number of foster parent calls where they did not feel supported,” he said Wednesday. “They did not have adequate information. They are not getting visits. They’re unhappy with the case plan or lack of the case plan for the child.”
Pringle suggests the government needs to focus on preventative measures and early childhood development.
“If two-thirds of children lived in poverty in Saskatchewan, we wouldn’t tolerate it, so why do we tolerate two-thirds of First Nations children living on reserve living in poverty?”
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