VICTORIA - British Columbia Premier Christy Clark and Opposition New Democrat Leader John Horgan are accusing each other of playing politics over the tragic death of an 18-year-old aboriginal male in government care.
Alex Gervais was being housed alone in an Abbotsford hotel when he apparently took his own life.
Clark is refusing calls to fire her Children's Minister Stephanie Cadieux over the death, saying the New Democrats are trying to score political points rather than await a review of the circumstances surrounding the teenagers fall from a hotel window.
Horgan says under Cadieux's watch the ministry has been rocked by numerous tragedies involving children in government care and Clark must put someone new in charge.
An attempt Wednesday by the NDP to force Cadieux to appear before the government's all-party children's committee failed as the Liberal-dominated committee voted against calling the minister.
British Columbia's independent children's advocate says aboriginal-operated children's agencies are underfunded and in earlier reports she blasted the government for wasting millions of dollars and mismanagement.
