Nine Saskatchewan children died last year, where charges of murder or manslaughter were laid, or police deemed the death of a homicide.  That’s in the 2020 annual report from the Advocate for Children and Youth, which was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.

Lisa Broda says there is also a tenth case involving the death of a toddler which is in the preliminary stages of investigation, but early indications are that the death was caused by non-accidental trauma.

She says the deaths are more than the previous seven years combined.
Broda wonders if pressures of the pandemic has something to do with this, although she adds that police-reported family violence against children and youth was already on the rise prior to the onslaught of COVID-19. Saskatchewan has the highest rate among the provinces.

The Advocate for Children says impacts from the pandemic include less time for observations and interactions by professionals and community members who would normally be helping those most in need.  Broda states the pandemic is having a distressing effect on children in terms of their mental, emotional, social and educational security, and many continue to suffer from social isolation, neglect, and abuse due to it not being detected.