Bernard Richard recommended for children’s watchdog post
Posted November 15, 2016 12:36 pm.
Last Updated November 15, 2016 2:28 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) – They’re big shoes to fill, but a former New Brunswick MLA will try and take on the role of BC children’s watchdog now that Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond’s term has ended.
A special legislative committee has selected Bernard Richard.
Richard has been in public life for decades. He was first elected as MLA in New Brunswick in 1974. He served in the provincial legislature until the mid-2000s, when he took the position of provincial ombudsman. Richard was then appointed as New Brunswick’s first Children and Youth Representative.
Richard has been tapped by a special committee of BC MLAs. Committee Chair Don McRae says Richard’s experience in the public sector and indigenous communities as well as his passion for advocating on the behalf of children make him a good fit. “He also brings a record of high ethical standards, fairness and accountability, and a principled and collaborative leadership style, which will support his work as representative.”
The NDP’s Michelle Mungal says Richard’s abilities will help him build on Turpel-Lafond’s contributions.
The relationship between Turpel-Lafond’s office has been tumultuous at times. Her reports on the state of BC’s child welfare system have been highly critical. Turpel-Lafond even wrote to the Liberal Speaker of the House Linda Reid earlier this year to demand a retraction after she accused Turpel-Lafond of being in contempt of Parliament.
