P.E.I. child protection sees major overhaul

A line-by-line rewrite of P.E.I.'s Child Protection Act was presented to the legislature for second reading on Tuesday.

The act hasn't been reviewed in several years. There were consultations across the province as part of the amendment process, and the result is changes to just about every section of the act.

"If we're going to have legislation in place, we need to have it useable and workable," said Social Services Minister Janice Sherry.

"By overhauling the complete act it will be easier for people to apply the rules."

As part of making the act easier to follow, the sections were reordered to follow the pattern of service delivery. Updates included the involvement in, or exposure to, child pornography as a condition for a child to be in need of child protection.

Another addition was to give children over 16 a say in their own care. The department can, in certain circumstances, make agreements directly with that teen to improve their living situation.

Aboriginal communities are made more of a partner in the care of children from their communities. Sherry said when this act passes a band representative will have to be notified any time there's an intervention by the department. "I think that we always have to be sensitive to special needs of our population and certainly diversity and culture is one of those areas that needs to be considered," she said.

The act is not expected to get a rough ride from the opposition.