MEDIA RELEASE
November 23, 2021
Representative for Children and Youth releases 2020-2021 annual report
Iqaluit, NU – Similar to last year’s annual report, the Representative for Children and Youth (Representative) again aimed to provide an overview of what it is like to be a young person in connection to Government of Nunavut (GN) services.
While this year’s Status of Young Nunavummiut section provides more data from the four main child- and youth- serving GN departments; based on the June appearance before Standing Committee on Oversight for Government Operation and Public Accounts, the Representative, Jane Bates, says, “There has been no meaningful change from some departments in understanding the importance and value of tracking this basic information.”
“Departments must get better at tracking this basic information in order to have timely access to accurate data about their services,” says Bates. “Without it, informed, necessary decisions cannot be made in the best interests of all Nunavummiut, let alone the territory’s most vulnerable children and youth.”
The Representative hopes to see a pattern develop of departments using the information in the RCYO’s annual report to inform decisions and improve government services for young Nunavummiut. New additions to this year’s annual report include:
• a monitoring scale to assess department’s progress in fulfilling recommendations made by the RCYO;
• a breakdown of critical injury and death statistics, dating back to September 30, 2015; and
• the RCYO’s service standards and quality assurance measures, based on Inuit Societal Values and National Advocacy Standards.
The RCYO’s 2020-2021 annual report was tabled in the Legislative Assembly of Nunavut on November 19, 2021.
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Media Contact:
Kim Foster
Manager of Communications and Public Awareness
Representative for Children and Youth’s Office
867-975-5091 | kfoster@rcynu.ca
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