TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO
Whereas children and youth are Ontario's most valuable resource and deserve the best start in life we can provide;
Whereas Ontario's most vulnerable children and youth are too often underserved by our child welfare, mental health, youth justice and special needs sectors;
Whereas that lack of service can result in health challenges, lower educational outcomes, reduced opportunity, injury and sometimes even death;
Whereas children and youth, and in particular vulnerable children and youth, often have no voice and few adults to speak on their behalf;
Whereas the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth is charged with the responsibility of providing an independent voice for children and youth by partnering with them to bring issues forward;
Whereas the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth provides a necessary focused approach, putting children and youth at the centre of all their work, that cannot be provided by any other office;
Whereas the closure of the Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth represents a step backwards for Ontario that will harm our most vulnerable children and youth;
We the undersigned petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to direct the Doug Ford government to reverse its decision to close the Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth.