The Manitoba government says hotels are only used as a last resort to house vulnerable children under the care of Child and Family Services, but documents obtained by CTV News tell a different story.
CFS uses the hotels if there are no other foster-care spaces, and the province has been promising to end the practice over the past decade.
It came under renewed criticism last week after a 15-year-old girl housed by CFS in a downtown Winnipeg hotel was viciously beaten outside. Tina Fontaine, the 15-year-old girl who ran away from home last August and was later found dead in the Red River, had also been sheltered in a hotel.
Information provided to CTV News shows that despite the province’s claim of using the practice as a last resort, the number of children sheltered in hotels actually increased from 2011 to 2014.
It hit a four-year high last March when 81 children were sheltered in hotels in one night.
Since 2012, Manitoba has spent an estimated $7 million on hotel accommodations, and $11 million on staff to supervise the children.
The Manitoba government has promised to end the use of hotels by June 1.
Critics wonder if that’s possible.
“My guess is on June 1 they will publish a number of zero (CFS children in hotels),” Progressive Conservative MLA Ian Wishart told CTV News. “That would be great for that day. But where would we be in two weeks past that -- that would be the real question.”
In the past week alone, 11 new emergency foster beds have been found, and the government is working to secure 24 more.
The province has also promised to boost security at the hotels, including hourly room checks.
With a report by Manitoba Bureau Chief Jill Macyshon in Winnipeg
