BC advocacy groups applaud young women in Alberta and prepare to launch a similar legal challenge to the BC Secure Care Act
July 28, 2000

Vancouver BC, July 28, 2000 - A coalition of BC advocacy groups applaud two young women who successfully challenged the constitutionality of the Alberta Protection of Children Involved in Prostitution Act, and prepare to launch a similar legal challenge to the Secure Care Act in BC.

The Secure Care Act, legislation that will allow Social Workers, parents, and Police to lock up youth for up to 100 days, is costly, ineffective and extensively violates young people's rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, claims a coalition of advocacy groups. Youth, First Nations groups, Women's and Girls' organizations, justice groups, and legal experts are exceptionally concerned about the controversial new legislation because it gives BC some of the broadest powers in the country to detain youth.

Communities who are most affected by the Secure Care Act were not consulted during its development and have thus been forced to react to its hasty enactment. Advocacy groups have consulted with lawyers who are eager to launch a constitutional challenge to the Act once it is in force. Jerry Adams, Executive Director of the Urban Native Youth Association, asserts that "Aboriginal youth are the most at risk population and the most likely to be affected by this Act" at the same time, "the Aboriginal community has continued to battle with Federal and Provincial governments over the protection and care of their children and youth." Vancouver Youth Voices argues that this Act runs the risk of becoming the default mechanism for the system— warehousing option for children and youth who aren't being appropriately served in other ways—thereby does youth more harm than good.

Advocates argue that the Secure Care Act not only seriously violates the rights of young people but will be costly and ineffective both in terms of its implementation and the costs associated with inevitable legal challenges. Carman Benoit, co-founder of Justice for Girls challenges "Why are we wasting money on jailing girls when at one tenth of the cost we could be creating resources, like a girls' transition house, that would truly make girls safe from violence. If we are going to jail somebody, how about the men who are sexually abusing girls on the street."

In the Ministry For Children and Families Aboriginal Strategic Plan there are specific requirements that the ministry must adhere too, "Unfortunately, this plan is similar to any other government commitment for Aboriginal participation and consultation—hollow promises!" states Scott Clark, President of the United Native Nations. The on going abduction of Aboriginal children by government agencies must stop, at the same time, we must find new ways of ensuring the protection of children from a more community based approach" indicates Jerry Adams of Urban Native Youth Association. This Act will be detrimental to Aboriginal communities throughout the province, ultimately widening the gap of mistrust, which has been a long-standing element of aboriginal/government relations since first contact.

Carman Benoit, Justice for Girls
Jerry Adams, Urban Native Youth Association
Scott Clark, United Native Nations