LETTERS: Mandatory child protection training needed and other letters

P.E.I. staff volunteers must understand duty to report Re: A child’s right to protection, July 9 Excellent article by Stu Neatby in The Guardian, which has ramifications for readers in other provinces of Canada. The P.E.I. child and youth Advocate, Marvin Bernstein, ends his comprehensive report examining the systemic issues that played a role in [...]

P.E.I. staff volunteers must understand duty to report Excellent article by Stu Neatby in The Guardian, which has ramifications for readers in other provinces of Canada. The P.E.I. child and youth Advocate, Marvin Bernstein, ends his comprehensive report examining the systemic issues that played a role in the 2020 death of nine-year-old Olivia Rodd. The title of the report: Olivia’s legacy: Protecting and supporting children is everyone’s responsibility.

He proposes a new legislation. Olivia’s Law would supersede the province’s privacy laws. In May 2026 the province’s Child, Youth and Family Services Act was amended to clarify that the duty to report applies to any instance in which a person has knowledge or reasonable grounds to suspect the safe of a child is endangered.

(It previous only applied to potential harm coming from a parent or legal guardian). As I wrote in spring 2025 to the Guardian, the duty to report has always been in place and includes those in the public education system but, as Dr. Bernstein observes, “there seems to be a pervasive lack of of understanding of the legal duty to report child protection concerns among professionals who work with children.” His report highlights that educated professionals in health and law enforcement were also not fully aware of this “duty to report” (to child protection services).

I agree that his comment regarding “silos between agencies hinder the ability of authorities to safeguard the rights of children” is correct, but must also include all those who work in the public education system from the custodian to the principal, staff, school counsellors — that is, to provide mandatory training on the duty to report child protection concerns. As he writes, “... client/patient-provider confidentiality is not sacrosanct; a parent’s right to privacy cannot supplant their child’s right to protection.” As I noted in my concerns previously to The Guardian, if mandatory in-service of all public staff and volunteers is not implemented, the legislation remains unused due to lack of knowledge, or knowing better.

Protection is not just the purview of health providers but, as Dr. Bernstein noted: “it is the responsibility of all of us” including health, education, child care providers, etc. I remain hopeful that legislators will implement the law proposed. Judy Donovan Whitty, M.Ed.

private mental health counsellor Former Western School Board director Cheers to palliative staff at QEH Cheers to the wonderful staff of nurses and doctors on the palliative (progressive) care unit of Queen Elizabeth Hospital who provided professional and compassionate care of my mother, Sadie Foster, during her final days. In particular, I want to mention the truly exceptional care provided to my mother by Dr. Scales, nurse Angela, nurse Holy and nurse Shea (my apologies if I misspell your name). My mother was blessed to have these competent professionals care for her during her final days.

Thank you to them, and to all of their colleagues who I do not recall by name, for the professional and attentive care they provided. The residents of Charlottetown are in good hands thanks to these wonderful medical professionals. Even the staunchest critic of the Canada’s health-care system would, in my opinion, be humbled by the compassion care provided by these professionals.

On behalf of myself and the entire family of Sadie Foster, I say thank you for ensuring her final days were peaceful. Glenn Alexander Ross, Charlottetown