Prince Edward-Hastings MPP Todd Smith says the province could do more to protect Ontario’s youth.
The province has passed the Child, Youth, and Family Services Act, which it says will make children and youth services more accountable, responsive, and accessible.
One of the pieces to the new legislation has increased the age of protection from 16 to 18 years old, which Smith says is an important step to improving the safety of Ontario’s youth.
The province says the change will give 1,600 more youth access to protection services.
But, Smith says he is concerned the new legislation could also make it harder for youth in rural areas to access these services.
Smith says the new legislation will also put a lot of faith into a flawed computer system, which could put children’s personal information at risk.