CAS Commission Announced

The Ontario government has appointed a promised commission to study the workings of the children's aid system.

It follows complaints Children's Aid Societies are not able to do a proper job of protecting children with their current budgets.

Premier Dalton McGuinty has refused to commit new money, saying his government has raised budgets by 30 per cent.

Critics have said children were at risk of being left in abusive homes and are facing higher suicide rates in one part of northern Ontario.

They also complained the promised commission had yet to get off the ground.

Laurel Broten, the minister of children and youth services,announced the appointment of the commission Thursday.

Broten says the commission is an opportunity "to find creative solutions to improve services children and youth are receiving in Ontario within available resources.''