Motion Brief - Phoenix Sinclair Inquiry

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APPENDIX “A”
Discussion of Evidence of Bruce Rivers
1. Mr. Rivers argues that, in the Ontario cases upon which he comments, the death
of children in care followed by inquests put the child welfare system “out of balance”,
resulting in the apprehension of more children and a greater load on the system.
2. Bruce Rivers describes his observations in Ontario following 6 to 8 coroners
inquests into child deaths in Ontario which took place in the late 1990’s and
proceedings of a Child Mortality task force during the same period.
Affidavit of Bruce Rivers, paras 3 and 9
3. In paragraphs 14 to 16 of his affidavit Mr. Rivers testified that the public attention
flowing from the inquests and the task force, together with changes in the law flowing
from the inquests and task force resulted in a greater number of reports of children in
need of protection, more children taken into care. In paragraphs 17 through 25 he
suggests that the increased pressure and public scrutiny on the system led to more
difficulty recruiting social workers, foster parents and volunteers and made it more
difficult to raise funds.
4. Mr. Rivers connects negative outcomes to the entire process of surrounding the
deaths, inquests, task force, recommendations and resulting legal changes.
His