THUNDER BAY - The Ontario Ombudsmen announced it will be conducting an investigation after receiving complaints regarding the closure of two youth justice centres in Northwestern Ontario.
The Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services announced earlier this month that due to fewer children admitted into custody and detention in Ontario, it would close 26 youth justice centres across the province.
Two of the centres slated for closure by April 30 included Creighton Youth Centre in Kenora and the J. J. Kelso Youth Centre in Thunder Bay.
“Concerns have been raised about a lack of notice and consideration for the vulnerabilities of the young people who were moved out of these centres – for example, whether their rights were respected and what planning was done for transitioning them to new facilities,” said Ontario Ombudsmen, Paul Dubé, in a statement issued Tuesday.
Following the announcement of the closures, Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief, Alvin Fiddler, said the decision to close the two facilities in the north and transfer youth to other parts of the province will have a major impact on families.
According to Dubé, the investigation will focus on how the Ministry carried out the closure of the facilities and not on the merits of the decision to close the 26 centres across the province.
“As always, if we find that the planning was adequate and the actions appropriate, we will say so,” he said. “If not, we will make recommendations for improvement.”
As part of the investigation, the Ombudsmen will speak with affected youth, staff, as well as Ministry officials and will include members of the dedicated children and youth unit with the Ombudsmen’s office.
“I have formally notified the Ministry that our investigation will focus on the planning, consultation and communication of these closures, along with the youth transfer process and overall implementation of the transition,” Dubé said.
"Throughout this process our priority has been to ensure youth continue to receive the supports they need. Youth were transferred to remaining facilities to help prevent their programming from being interrupted," a spokesperson from the Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services said in a statement. "Probation officers advised the young people of their transition and provided information to them and their parents or guardians about what facility they were being transferred to.
Anyone with information that could assist in this investigation is asked to submit a complaint form at www.ombudsman.on.ca, to email [email protected], or call 1-800-263-1830.
There is no set timeline for the investigation by Dubé said it will be completed as quickly as possible.
