On neglect

The coroner's jury reviewing the death of Sherry Charlie joins the chorus pointing out the problems with Gordon Campbell's slashing of government:

An inquest into a toddler's death has recommended that B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell reinstate the office of the children's commissioner, which his government abolished in 2002.

The coroner's jury issued the recommendation and 18 others shortly before midnight Friday in Port Alberni after a 10-day inquest into the death of Sherry Charlie.

And even the current minister responsible isn't so much defending the current system as trying to deflect blame:

The minister of children and family development, Stan Hagen, said on Saturday that he had read the inquest's recommendations. But he said he wasn't going to decide what actions to take until he receives several other reports into the Charlie case, which he expects by June.

"It is important to note that we have made a lot of changes in practice in the ministry over the last four years."

Of course, part of the problem was based on the Campbell government's original unnecessary changes...which results in plenty of reason to be suspicious about Hagen's claim that matters have improved in the last few years. But whatever has been done since, the example of the Campbell government's neglect should be a warning sign to Harper as he contemplates how much of the federal government to axe in order to meet his own tax-cutting goals...as he surely doesn't want to be on the wrong end of similar judgments in the future.