policy & legislation

This section contains information on Canadian child welfare legislation and policy. In Canada, child welfare services are provincially and territorially funded and legislated, with the exception of federally funded services to First Nations peoples living on reserves. In accordance with individual agreements negotiated between First Nations communities, provincial/territorial governments, and the federal government, an increasing number of First Nations are delivering child and family services in accordance with provincial and territorial child welfare laws.

Title Authors Year of Publication
Information Sheet
Legal Age for Leaving Children Unsupervised Across Canada

Ruiz-Casares, Mónica
Kilinc, Deniz

Information Sheet
Children in Out-of-Home Care in Canada in 2019

Saint-Girons, Marie
Trocmé, Nico
Esposito, Tonino
Fallon, Barbara 

Journal article
Defining ‘reasonable force’: Does it advance child protection?

Durrant, Joan E.
Fallon, Barbara
Lefebvre, Rachael
Allan, Kate

Report
Provincial/Territorial Protocol On Children, Youth and Families Moving Between Provinces and Territories

Government of British Columbia
Government of Alberta
Government of Manitoba
Government of Saskatchewan
Government of New Brunswick
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
Government of Nova Scotia
Government of Prince Edward Island
Government of Northwest Territories
Government of Nunavut
Government of Yukon
Government of Ontario

Information Sheet
Legal Age for Leaving Children Unsupervised Across Canada

Ruiz-Casares, Mónica
Radic, Ivana

Report
Response to the Advocate for Children and Youth Two Tragedies Report: February 2015 Status Update

Saskatchewan Ministry of Social Services

Information Sheet
Manitoba's child welfare system

Milne, Lise
Kozlowski, Anna
Sinha, Vandna

Report
Response to the Advocate for Children and Youth Two Tragedies Report: August 2014 Status Update

Saskatchewan Ministry of Social Services

Report
Saskatchewan Child Abuse Protocol 2014

Government of Saskatchewan

Information Sheet
Saskatchewan's child welfare system

Fast, Elizabth
Simpson, Megan
Trocmé, Nico