Winnipeg Free Press Newspaper Archives May 7 2015, Page 7

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - May 7, 2015, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE A7 THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015 A 7 MAY 7- 9, 2015 UP TO 40% ALL OFF IN- STORE ITEMS 3 DAYS ONLY! GREAT SAVINGS FOR HOME OR COTTAGE Get up to 40% OFF all in- store items from the world’s leading designers including chandeliers, table lamps, floor lamps, wall sconces, landscape lighting, fans and more, all in the latest llooookkss aanndd ffiinniisshheess.. Don’t miss it! Thursday - Saturday, May 7 - 9, 2015 Everything is ON SALE! .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Mon - Tues 9am - 5pm Wed 9am - 8pm Thurs, Fri 9am - 5pm, Sat 10am - 5pm 895 CENTURY ST. | 204- 783- 9600 www. billknight. com AREA RUGS DIFFERENT DISTINCTIVE ORIGINAL SPRING CLEARANCE Corner of Donald & Wardlaw Avenue 204- 453- 2390 | designmanitoba. com design manitoba T HU & FR I 10 - 8 | SAT 10 - 6 | SU N 12 - 5 MUST MAKE ROOM FOR NEW STOCK 6O % UP TO OFF T HE number of reports of missing children in the care of family services agencies has doubled in Winnipeg since 2008. According to the Winnipeg Police Service, there were 3,669 reports of missing persons under the age of 18 in the first 11 months of last year from group and foster homes as well as directly from Child and Family Services. On a prorated basis, the number exceeds 4,000 for the entire year. In 2008, there were 1,904 reports of missing minors from these sources. Liberal MLA Jon Gerrard tabled the numbers in the legislature Wednesday after filing a freedom- of- information request with city police. The Winnipeg police crime analysis unit keeps detailed statistics on the source of missing children reports. It knows, for instance, how many times it receives reports of missing kids from schools, shopping malls, group homes, family residences and hospitals. The statistics do not reveal how many children the reports represent — a child may be reported missing several times in a year — or how long the children were missing. Gerrard said the increased number shows “ things are going in the wrong direction.” “ One would think that with all the attention that Child and Family Services is getting that you would be seeing better performance with fewer children running away,” he said. “ Clearly that’s not the case, and it is puzzling, to say the least, as to why this is happening.” According to Winnipeg police stats, there were 2,567 reports of missing children from group homes in the first 11 months of last year, compared with 1,263 in all of 2008. Last year, there were 629 missing children reports filed with city police from foster homes, compared with 354 six years earlier. Since 2008, the number of missing- person reports involving kids in care has grown steadily, hitting a high of 4,085 in 2013. Last year, the total levelled off. A cabinet spokeswoman said Family Services Minister Kerri Irvin- Ross would not comment on the police figures until she received an explanation about what they mean. In a statement, the spokeswoman said since 2006, the province has hired 400 more frontline child- protection workers to reduce caseloads. During the last eight years, it has added 5,000 new safe places for kids in foster homes and shelters and other care facilities. Winnipeg police did not respond to a request for more information about the statistics before deadline Wednesday. larry. kusch@ freepress. mb. ca Reports of missing kids in CFS care on the rise Minister to seek explanation from police for jump in stats By Larry Kusch A four- month- old girl from Little Black River First Nation died Monday but the RCMP said her death was not suspicious. Powerview RCMP responded to a call about a non- responsive child at about 6: 30 p. m. The baby was taken to the Selkirk hospital where she was pronounced deceased. The RCMP conducted an investigation under the Fatality Inquiries Act. A media release stated the death is “ not being treated as suspicious by police” and that the RCMP involvement has concluded. The name of the deceased child will not be released. — staff First Nations infant dies A_ 09_ May- 07- 15_ FP_ 01. indd A7 5/ 6/ 15 9: 32: 30 PM