12/01/2025
Manitoba’s families minister says the province is launching an internal investigation into how a six year old girl in foster care ended up with catastrophic injuries that search warrant documents show may leave her paralyzed for life.
The girl, who is from one of the four First Nations in the Island Lake region, had been living with foster parents in Winnipeg. She was taken to hospital in critical condition on Sept. 19. Winnipeg police said officers were called that day to a home in the Riverbend neighbourhood about a child with severe injuries.
Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine called what happened to the girl “abominable abuse.”
“We’re looking at what occurred within the system to allow this child to face this amount of abuse,” she said. Fontaine also stated, “I take the safety of all children incredibly seriously… I think that all of us can agree that children shouldn’t be abused,” but said she could not discuss further details due to privacy laws under the Child and Families Services Act.
Life altering injuries detailed by police
In a sworn affidavit, a Winnipeg police officer said the girl suffered “life altering” injuries, including:
• a fractured cervical spine
• a fractured breast bone
• a bruised lung
• broken sternum and vertebrae
• “significant bruising” over her entire body
• tape burns on her mouth
• what appeared to be small stab marks on the bottoms of her feet
Police believe she had been lying in bed, unable to move due to the severity of her injuries. Officers found her bedsheets soaked in urine, leading them to believe she had been immobile for an extended period of time.
Charges against the foster parents
Her 25 year old foster mother has been charged with aggravated assault, assault and failing to provide the necessaries of life. Her 26 year old foster father faces a charge of failing to provide the necessaries of life. CBC is not naming the foster parents to protect the identities of the children in care.
Search warrant documents also show police are investigating whether the couple previously abused two other foster children.
Police allege one of those children had injuries “consistent with being struck by a thin belt or a rope,” and another child showed signs of abuse including a compression injury to the vertebrae.
Worker did not see the child for two days
A respite worker told police she last saw the girl on Sept. 17. She was supposed to help with child care on Sept. 18 but did not enter the girl’s bedroom after being told the child was “sick and sleeping.” She never saw the girl that day.
On Sept. 19, early in the morning, the foster parents emailed the worker again saying the girl was sick and she did not need to come. Later that night, the foster parents called emergency services after realizing the girl wasn’t moving.
Police sought the foster parents’ phones
A separate search warrant requested access to the foster parents’ phones, alleging there was evidence showing what they did after the girl was injured. Documents say the foster parents likely used their phones to get advice on how to treat the child’s injuries.
Two additional production orders were filed in October seeking medical records for the two other foster children.
System breakdown under investigation
Fontaine said the department will be able to compel evidence and witnesses. She could not provide a timeline for completion, saying, “It’s gonna go for as long as it takes.”
She stopped short of ordering what’s known as a Section 4 review. Under the Child and Family Services Act, a Section 4 review allows the director of CFS to examine all aspects of a child’s life before and after entering care.
According to Fontaine’s spokesperson, Ryan Stelter, “Those type of reviews are typically broader in scope.”
A Section 4 review was ordered in 2024 following the slaying of 17 year old Myah Gratton, after her mother warned CFS about safety concerns.
Child advocate also investigating
Sherry Gott, Manitoba’s Advocate for Children and Youth, has been reviewing the case since September. Her office is responsible for reviewing serious injuries to children receiving government services.
Gott said she supports any further provincial review and pointed out that provincial standards require physical check ins at least every 30 days for “low risk” foster children, and once a week in high risk cases.
Gott said more resources are needed, noting the instability in the system:
“Because of the revolving doors in child welfare, people come and go. So if one social worker leaves, another social worker assumes that caseload… and then you have 40 cases.”
“Children are falling through the cracks when there is a lack of oversight.”
Fontaine said privacy concerns mean most findings will not be made public, but her department may release steps it plans to take “to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.”
👉Questions:
▪️How does a child with this level of injury go unnoticed by the system?
▪️What changes need to happen to protect children in government care?
▪️Is the foster system stretched too thin to keep kids safe?
