CORNWALL, Ontario – Dozens of people came out to demonstrate in front of the Children’s Aid Society (CAS) office in Cornwall on Thursday, March 28.
The protesters felt that the CAS were not doing enough to protect children in light of a recent assault of a child in the community.
“CAS has been failing children for many years,” claimed Brigitte Gareau, one of the protesters. “They used to be so strict, now they aren’t taking kids at all.”
Gareau said that she spoke with CAS about the case in question, but was told that they were investigating the situation and that things take time.
Rachel Daigneault, Executive Director of SD&G CAS said that she acknowledged the concerns of the protesters, and that CAS was working diligently on behalf of children in the community.
“I appreciate people being concerned about the safety of this child and all children,” she said. “We take the protection of children very very seriously.”
She explained that police were still investigating this case, and that CAS was cooperating with that investigation.
“Sometimes people think we don’t do anything because they don’t see the steps that we take,” she said. “What we try to do most of the time is to keep the child with family and that doesn’t mean the parents, I can be the extended family. It is always about protecting children, but there are different ways. Removing the child is not always the best solution.”
Daigneault went on to ask anyone with any information or a concern about a child’s safety to please contact their office at 613-933-2292.
