In the wake of the brutal murder of seven-year-old Katelynn Sampson, NDP’s Children and Youth Services Critic Andrea Horwath is demanding increased protection for vulnerable Ontario children.

“This tragedy is unfathomable. Protecting our most vulnerable children should be a priority for the McGuinty Liberals and unless we increase the legal protection for children like Katelynn, this tragedy won’t be the last,” said Horwath.

Horwath is calling for an overhaul of the Children’s Law Reform Act, the law that governed the change in Katelynn’s guardianship.

“When a child can simply be handed from one legal guardian to another with little to no scrutiny of the new guardian’s background, there is a problem here. Children aren’t commodities,” said Horwath.

Donna Irving was granted guardianship over Katelynn in January despite a history of violence and at least one conviction of assault.

“We need to strengthen the Act to ensure a proper background screening process of all prospective guardians, regardless of whom is handing the child over. We’re talking about the health and well-being of children and we can’t let them down,” said Horwath.

Horwath also supports the call for a full and proper inquest into Katelynn’s death, saying Ontarians deserve to know exactly what happened and what can prevent it from happening again.

The NDP has been at the forefront of fighting for stronger protection laws of Ontario’s children. Horwath’s Justice for Jared Act, introduced in the Spring, would require an inquest every time a child dies in the custody of a parent since January 2006 if Children's Aid Societies has been involved. Horwath has also called for Ombudsman oversight of Children’s Aid Societies across Ontario, a move that may have protected the interests of Katelynn and other vulnerable children like her.

“We need justice for Katelynn. I’m hoping changes to the Act will be Katelynn’s legacy so that all other Ontario kids can receive the kind of protection she deserved,” said Horwath.