Advertisement

Children mistakenly taken from their mother because of drug-test mixup: Tories

FILE. File/ Global News

Nova Scotia’s community services minister has been asked to apologize to a young woman who was apparently left traumatized after two of her children were mistakenly taken away by Child Protective Services for four weeks.

The woman’s case was raised in the provincial legislature Friday by Progressive Conservative critic Barbara Adams, who did not name the woman or her children.

“As you can imagine, this family was incredibly traumatized by this experience,” Adams said during question period.

Adams said the two children – an infant and a seven-year-old – were apprehended after police raided the family home in July, acting on a report from the department that the woman had tested positive for illicit drug use.

READ MORE: Ice cream social invitation turns sour for Nova Scotia PC leadership candidate

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

To ensure the children’s welfare, the woman had to submit to random drug testing because she had a previous history of illicit drug use, Adams said.

Story continues below advertisement

The Community Services Department called the woman a week later to confirm there had been a mix-up.

However, it took another three weeks before the children were returned home.

“When the province removes children from a family, they have to have more than bad data,” she said. “(The department) has yet to issue an apology to the family, and have not reimbursed the family for their legal fees.”

READ MORE: Mom who took son to doctors 323 times charged after they determine he’s not sick

The member for Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage asked if Community Services Minister Kelly Regan would apologize to the family for the mix-up.

Regan said she could not speak about individual cases, but she assured Adams that her department would look into the case.

Outside the legislature, Adams said the children weren’t returned to the woman until after the politician called the department to determine what was going on.

She said she wants the department to adopt policies to ensure this kind of mistake doesn’t happen again.

“This is somebody who has her life together and is moving forward with the support of her family – and they were invaded like a SWAT team,” Adams said. “It left a horrible fear in them that this could happen to others.”

Advertisement

Sponsored content

AdChoices