May 07, 2014 - 7:22 PM
VICTORIA - British's Columbia's children's representative is calling for an independent review of a failed government computer system that she says is putting the lives of vulnerable children at risk.
Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond told the government's child and youth committee that its integrated case management system used to deliver social programs, subsidies, income assistance and child protection is a disaster.
She says information about vulnerable children and their families is not being processed properly and she fears the flaw puts kids at risk because police and social agencies won't have data about children during situations involving domestic violence or other family issues.
Turpel-Lafond says the system has crashed repeatedly recently and has essentially been out of commission for a week.
Children's Minister Stephanie Cadieux says the glitch has been repaired and she doesn't believe the system needs to be replaced.
Social Development Minister Don McRae says his ministry has worked to ensure high priority issues are handled by the ministry despite the computer problems.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014