B.C. Conservatives call on government to investigate death of Indigenous teen

B.C.'s Opposition Conservatives are calling connected the state to motorboat an probe into the decease of Indigenous teen Chantelle Williams who died successful Port Alberni successful January portion nether authorities care.

In a release, the enactment claims determination is simply a "crisis of accountability" successful the kid and younker payment system, and "broader systemic failures that proceed to enactment Indigenous children astatine risk."

As CBC News archetypal reported, 18-year-old Williams died successful infirmary connected Jan. 28 aft being recovered unresponsive connected a sidewalk successful sub-zero temperatures lone a fewer blocks from her radical home.

Members of Williams's household judge she whitethorn person froze to death. 

The teen was successful the guardianship attraction of Usma Nuu-chah-nulth Family and Child Services, a delegated bureau of the Ministry of Children and Family Development, and surviving successful a contracted radical location operated by Inside Out Care Corporation. 

The B.C. Coroners Service is investigating the origin of death. Family accidental they were told by an Usma typical that Williams died of earthy causes.  

"How tin the abrupt decease of a young pistillate — hardly into adulthood, inactive nether provincial attraction — beryllium considered natural," said Amelia Boultbee, Conservative professional for Children and Family Development. "How galore of these alleged earthy oregon undetermined deaths are occurring wrong the system?"

Advocacy radical Justice for Girls said stories similar Williams's are each excessively familiar.

"We cognize that teenage girls that travel from Indigenous communities are disproportionately failed by the foster attraction system," said Sue Brown, Justice for Girls manager of advocacy. "In our enactment with girls implicit 25 years — and this is backed up by the information — outcomes of girls successful attraction are bleak."

Justice for Girls acts connected behalf of teenage girls who are failed by the institutions liable for protecting them. 

Brown said radical homes operating wrong B.C.'s foster attraction strategy request amended regulation.  

"We person a for-profit radical location strategy passim the state wherever for-profit radical location providers are operating connected a nett model, which means they are reducing their outgo successful bid to maximize their profits," said Brown. "The effect is it's the kids who are harmed successful that model."

B.C.'s Representative for Children and Youth, Jennifer Charlesworth, told CBC successful an earlier email that her bureau would beryllium releasing a study successful May "focused connected however systems of attraction are failing girls specifically."

Charlesworth besides said her bureau volition beryllium doing a "comprehensive reappraisal of government-funded staffed radical homes to illuminate wherever gaps successful signifier and prime of attraction exist."

Boultbee said much reports won't help, though.

"We request accountability and contiguous reform," she said. "One decease is simply a tragedy. But erstwhile the strategy allows it to hap again and again, it becomes a situation of accountability."