APTN National News
In death, Phoenix Sinclair may save another child’s life.
At least that’s what an inquiry into her murder may help happen after a long list of recommendations for the province of Manitoba came out Friday in a report following months of testimony from the very people who should have been able to protect Sincliar from her neglectful and “cruel” mother and “sadistic” violent boyfriend.
“I believe that the social workers who testified at this inquiry wanted to do their best for the children and families they served, and that they wanted to protect children, but their actions and resulting failures so often did not reflect those good intentions,” wrote inquiry commissioner Ted Hughes, a former judge who presided over the inquiry.
In that, the government of Manitoba apologized as they admitted the child welfare system failed to protect Sinclair.
“On behalf of the government of Manitoba, I want to offer an apology for the child welfare system’s failure to protect Phoenix Sinclair. My sympathy goes out to all who cared for her. Today is about remembering a little girl and doing everything we can to learn from her death,” said Minister Family Services Kerri Irvin-Ross. “We thank commissioner Ted Hughes for his dedication, his hard work and the invaluable insights that will help us better protect our most vulnerable children.”
Sinclair, 5, was in and out of foster care from the day she was born.
She was murdered by her mother and her boyfriend after Sinclair was returned to them from child welfare. Her body was found at a dump on the Fisher River First Nation in 2006.
Hughes heard from 126 witnesses during 91 days of testimony that examined the circumstances surrounding the death of Sinclair.
From that he has made 62 recommendations to improve the child welfare system and the underlying issues of poverty.
The government said they’ll immediately act on the recommendations.
The cost of the inquiry was $14 million and the implementation team will cost $350,000. The report and recommendations can be found here.
