Andrew MacLeod July 18, 2017 Experienced MLAs Carole James, Adrian Dix and David Eby awarded senior positions. British Columbia Premier John Horgan has chosen a gender-balanced cabinet that includes a mix of veteran MLAs and people first elected to the …
News
Huffington Post: Melanie Mark becomes first Indigenous woman in cabinet
VICTORIA — British Columbia’s New Democrat Premier John Horgan was sworn in on Tuesday. He announced that his cabinet is the first in B.C. to achieve gender parity, with 10 women in cabinet and one named as minister of state. …
As Word Spreads: A podcast of First Call BC
In episode 6 of As Word Spreads, former youth in care discuss the challenges facing the Ministry of Children and Families, and discuss prospective ministers in John Horgan’s new cabinet. As Word Spreads is a podcast produced by First Call: BC Child …
Melanie on Indigenous representation in the legislature
June 21, 2017 – Melanie is one of three MLAs interviewed on the CBC’s Early Edition about efforts to amplify Indigenous issues in politics, and pave the way forward for reconciliation. June 21 – National Aboriginal Day – celebrates the …
CBC – Kids in care suffering due to low wages and lack of support for social workers, says BCGEU
Melanie Mark, the official opposition spokesperson for Children and Families, says she worries nothing was earmarked for wage increases. “The front lines are completely overwhelmed and they are doing double efforts. People don’t feel inspired to go to work,” Mark said. Read …
Adoption Act ‘streamlined’ to make out-of-province adoptions legal
B.C. has amended the Adoption Act to make out-of-province adoptions legal, following lawsuits focused on the long-standing practice of placing children in other provinces. For decades the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) sent children to families outside of B.C. to be adopted, but the …
B.C. Almanac: Melanie Mark on Indigenous Child Welfare
March 16, 2017: Listen to Melanie answer questions on Indigenous child welfare on CBC radio 1 show B.C. Almanac, hosted by Angela Sterritt. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/programs/bcalmanac/march-16-2017-tipping-indigenous-child-welfare-1.4028697
Globe and Mail: Province struggles to retain child protection workers
Globe and Mail, 27-Feb-2017 Province struggles to retain child protection workers By Justine Hunter B .C. Finance Minister Mike de Jong has promised to hire 100 new social workers for child protection this year to backfill the amply documented shortages …
Globe and Mail: Liberals’ pile of surplus cash masks serious deficit in services
Globe and Mail, 20-Feb-2017 Liberals’ pile of surplus cash masks serious deficit in services By Justine Hunter On Monday, B.C. Finance Minister Mike de Jong will make his regular pilgrimage to the Olde Towne Shoe Repair shop in Victoria, where …
Vancouver Sun: Number of B.C. kids-in-care deaths, critical injuries jump dramatically
NDP critic Melanie Mark, though, called the numbers “shocking,” and hopes the rising tally of injuries and deaths will force the ministry to follow some of the advocate’s recommendations, such as hiring more social workers. “The number (of deaths and …