Advocate demands proof of new child welfare spending from government

New Brunswick's child and youth watchdog will require government to report quarterly on whether new funding for child welfare is being spent as promised.

This comes a week after Kelly Lamrock said the budget for this year would be "devastating" to children and youth in the province's care.

"I have advised the Department of Social Development that we will be exercising the advocate's powers under the Child, Youth and Senior Advocate Act to require quarterly reporting on the prevention and intervention measures contained in the Child and Youth Well-Being Act, including integrated services," Lamrock said in a statement Wednesday. 

"The minister has set the target of ensuring that the $17.2 million in announced money is truly spent on new services, and therefore we should see just over $4 million more per quarter being invested in these services. We will monitor and advise the legislative assembly if this is the case."

Lamrock said he chose to exercise that authority after hearing concerns from the community and front-line workers about the department's child welfare budget.

His office reported last week that the department will have $47.1 million less to spend this year on child welfare services.

That's because this year's budget is $23.5 million less than what the department actually spent last year — while the department has also promised $23.6 million for new additions to wages and services.

Lamrock said the minister has advised $17.2 million of that latter total will be put to child and youth services, including early interventions. 

Minister of Social Development Cindy Miles has disputed that the budget was cut, as this year's budget estimate — while lower than last year's actual spending — is greater than last year's budget estimate. 

"That was last year, and we feel that we can deliver the supports and services that young folks need with what we've budgeted," Miles said. 

"Redirecting funds to get the best impact and to best support young folks is what this budget is about."

Miles didn't specify from where that funding would be re-directed.

"Many of the advocate's recommendations are incorporated into the work that the department is already undertaking," spokesperson Kate Wright said by email. 

"The department will continue to focus on approaches that lead to better outcomes for our most vulnerable young people and their families."

The department didn't directly respond when asked whether it would provide quarterly updates on new spending as  Lamrock requested.

In his statement, Lamrock noted department officials can face obstruction charges if "misleading answers" are given under questioning from the advocate's office.

"In that forum, department officials did not contest the findings of our report and reported that there was no evidence to support a reduction in demand when the budget was made," Lamrock said. 

"The fact that I am skeptical that the new money can be provided, and the reduction targets met, does not pre-empt government trying new things."

Lamrock said he hopes the minister's evaluation — that the budget reduction won't lead to service cuts — is correct. 

"I admit the math seems daunting to me," he said in an interview.

"I'm not sure how they're going to, but ... let's turn on the scoreboard and play the game. They say they can do this. I'm just here to keep score and make sure they really do."