Phoenix Sinclair

It is astounding to learn that Phoenix, a five year old child under care of Manitoba's Child and Family Services died last June - and that she was so lost in the provincial system of care - that no one even knew she had died until recently.

The first tragedy is that Phoenix, who had been in the care of Child and Family services died amidst horrible abuse.

In late 2003, Phoenix's family had asked that Phoenix be transferred from Winnipeg Child and Family to an aboriginal child and family services agency. This was not done, in spite of the government having stated numerous times that it wanted to transfer children to aboriginal child and family services agency. The government just seems to be incompetent in getting things done. And now, we learn Phoenix died in June 2005, more than a year and a half after the transfer request was made.

Even more horrific, we learn that Winnipeg Child and Family Services apparently lost track of Phoenix Sinclair, indeed apparently closed the file in March 2005, and we have heard no justification for whatsoever for this closing the file.

Day by day, I hear more and more about problems occurring in looking after children in care in Manitoba. This is a very sad and tragic example. I am fearful that the level of NDP incompetence is such that we could have more stories like this.