Child Abuse Brushed Aside

This petition is in regards to having the investigation relating to the child abuse of a 22 month old child re-opened by the RCMP and Ministry of Children and Family.

We hope to collect 100 signatures.

My brother Adwin picked up his son (my nephew) from his ex-wife's home. My nephew had been dressed in long sleeved clothes which was unusual as his ex usually dresses him in short sleeve shirts.

While getting his son ready for his bath he noticed a large cut on his right forearm. Upon asking the child who did this, he tried hiding his arm and later revealed "mamma" which is what he calls his mother.

Adwin called the Ministry on September 20th who said to first call the RCMP. Adwin reported the matter to the RCMP who came, took pictures and asked questions. My nephew was seen by the Child Abuse Clinic at BC Children's Hospital. He kept his son in his care in the meantime while the RCMP and ministry investigations were occuring.

The Doctor's report concluded that the baby had a "gaping laceration" and is "unusual" which hints towards child abuse.

On October 26th, the RCMP informed Adwin that they have contacted his ex-wife and are now closing investigation as the mother said the child was burned on a stove. The Ministry called Adwin shortly after and told him to return my nephew back to his mother. Adwin explained that the Doctor's report had stated the injury was a laceration which is not a burn according to the definiton of a laceration. He asked further "how can a 22 month old child get burned on a stove" and "why hadn't the mother taken him to the hospital." The Ministry stated that the mother was not mature, while the RCMP stated that the mother was too scared to take the child to the hospital. No other information was revealed by the RCMP or Ministry leaving many unanswered questions.

Both government branches have also ignored the fact that my nephew has scars on his arms and legs and have also ignored the Doctor's report.

It is understandable that the Ministry may have limited resources; however, a child is not a statistic or report and action needs to be taken by having the investigation re-opened.