Last week, RCMP laid charges against two people in a case that has broken many hearts across Alberta.

In 2014, Serenity Rabbit passed away while under government care at the age of 4. It wasn't until October 6 of this year that the first charges were laid in the case against the girl's aunt and uncle for failing to provide the necessities of life.

Airdrie MLA Angela Pitt, who serves as the Shadow Minister for Justice, welcomed the charges but said more needs to be done.

"We're relieved to see that this case is moving forward. However, there's still serious concerns about the way this case has been handled by Children's Services. The charges that were laid last week were just in relation to the treatment while Serenity was alive and not into how she died."

Pitt and the Wildrose Party had pressed the Provincial Government to take more action in cases of children in kinship care and called an emergency meeting to address the matter last year. That pressure has continued with the United Conservative Party.

Although steps have been taken to address the issue, including the creation of the Child Intervention Panel, Pitt said the government really needs to take cases like Serenity's seriously.

"There's a certain responsibility that this government has to bring justice for the children that are in government care. That was clearly dropped and the government wouldn't take responsibility. Those are they types of changes that we want to see moving forward because this can't happen again."

Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley also commented on the decision last week.

"As a government, as legislators, and as a society that wants every child to be safe and healthy, we heard Serenity’s story as a call to action."

Ganley said she doesn't want to offer further comments as the case is still in the hands of the RCMP and the Crown Prosecutors.

 

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