GN opens confidential line to raise concerns about Family Services
People who write or call should get response within 14 business days, minister says
Family Services Minister Margaret Nakashuk has announced a new way to voice concerns about her department’s work. (File photo by Jeff Pelletier)
The Government of Nunavut has created a way for people to confidentially raise concerns about the work of the Department of Family Services including child protection, residential care and family wellness.
“We heard from families and communities and from members in this house that Nunavummiut need a trusted place to be heard,” Family Services Minister Margaret Nakashuk told the legislative assembly on Friday.
She announced the creation of a new government client relations office tasked with giving Nunavut residents a “clear, respectful, and confidential” way to raise concerns about the department’s work.
Nunavummiut can send their concerns and inquiries about Family Services to yourvoicematters@gov.nu.ca, or by phoning 1-844-FWCHILD (1-844-392-4453), Nakashuk said, adding they should receive a response within 14 business days.
Concerns such as child abuse or neglect will be referred to regional teams, she said.
The announcement comes shortly after Andrew Hayes, the deputy auditor general of Canada, gave an update on his office’s work overseeing improvements to child and family services in Nunavut, saying “youth in Nunavut still remain at risk of not receiving the protections and services that they require and that they deserve under the law.”
At the same time, some Nunavummiut have publicly raised concerns with Family Services, describing conditions at the department’s foster care facility in Kinngait. One of the hamlet’s former caregivers recently posted photos to Facebook of children sleeping on the floor of what appeared to be an office, and accused the facility of poor management.
The situation was caused by the fact there were not enough foster parents in Kinngait, Nakashuk said when asked in the legislature Thursday about the situation.
She adding that “at times some of the children have to be under the care of the social workers in their communities in their offices.”
Caring for children and abusing them are two very different things, lets make that clear.
Having children in derelict conditions, strapped in high chairs as a means of control is ABUSE. As a former social worker, I too have had to care for children in that manner, and you would never catch me doing what that office did.
Family Services and all their leaders should be charged in accordance with the law and should be ashamed they allow children to live in such deplorable conditions.
Another excuse amongst how many now Miss Nakashuk and Mr Ellsworth.
When will it end?
Fourteen days. Amazing how lighting quick.The department is going to be in providing a response.
. Then the ever eager regional team. Whoever they are. Will get the situation all looked after.
Children that are being abused can be dead by the time. The incompetents ever see the child.
. Madame Minister this plan is a disaster.
Take a break go have smoke and coffee. Then admit you have no idea how. Deal with this epidemic. Of child abuse in Nunavut.
family services does not want anymore facebook whistleblowers going public. and this does not mean the problem has been of will be solved.
Who answers this line and who do they report to? Do they have power to make change?
What is different about calling this number versus calling the Regional Office if the problem is the regional team?
Does this team/position take away position a that could do front line services?
A lot of bad things can happen in 14 days, To me, this seems really slow for an emergency hotline.
So its confidential but you need to call or email? There should be a website that will allow for confidential reports to be completed without providing your info.
As a previous FS staff, I know that they villainize and reprimand you when you speak out. Whether your info is supposed to be kept confidential or not, word gets around.
This current Department raises concerns at all levels to unpredictable Deputy Minister to its Executives Director. The vacant Family Services positions across the Territory can’t appear to be filled due to its Head Office poor administration. This include just pulling out jobs of 35 positions in Home Care in the Kivalliq that created training and employment opportunities in remote community such as the Naja Isabelle Home Care. The Job’s that just pulled out to Ontario.
Further to this matter flawed EDUCATION system where Students are handed Gr. 12 graduation Certificate with added CREDIT’s of Cultural Programs just to show how this present Education system is broken across this Territory. You may Notice that students in classes Nunavut are taught general basics (NOT relevant to EDUCATION) more as post GRAD’s as – Pre-Trades, constructions workers, and Laborers. Certainly NOT preparation to POST-SECONDARY in College or University.
RCYNU is one great place to voice your concerns and you sure wouldn’t wait 14 days!! Very trustable and get right down to the bottom of things! This is from my personal experience. You can check out their website
https://rcynu.ca/
Ensuring the Government of Nunavut provides ethical, equitable, and consistent services that meet the needs and support the rights of young Nunavummiut, and the families, who rely on them.
If anyone has a complaint about a department’s service, or is unable to receive a service for a young person and/or their family, they can bring it to the attention of our office for review.
All information reported to their office is confidential and can be reported anonymously.
Please use this! Over the “contracted” party made by the government!
This new “confidential” line is not the solution Nunavummiut need—it’s just another layer added to a system that’s already failing children, families, and frontline staff. As some commenters have pointed out, these kinds of reporting mechanisms (RCYO, AOG, internal complaints lines) produce reports and investigations, but they never lead to real change. Instead, they overwhelm frontline workers with more audits and paperwork, while the root problems—unsafe working conditions, chronic short-staffing, and toxic leadership—remain untouched.
The situation in the Kinngait office is a perfect example. For years, it’s been in shambles—frankly, it’s a public health and occupational safety hazard. Staff are held to impossible standards, penalized for not keeping up, and blamed when things go wrong—even when they’ve been raising red flags from the start. The result? Burnout, firings, and high turnover among the very people most committed to helping Nunavummiut. This hurts the children and families who need stable, consistent support.
Leadership is a huge part of the problem. When those at the top are bullies (The ADM), unqualified (The ADM), or unwilling to listen (The DM), nothing changes—no matter how many complaints are made or who they’re made to. Many staff have reported these issues to the highest levels, but it’s always swept under the rug. They will have an emergency meeting and try to strategize how to spin this to come out in the right light – while defending themselves.
And let’s be honest: this complaints line isn’t even new. It’s been around since 2020! Rebranding it doesn’t address the underlying crisis. Until the Department of Family Services starts listening to staff, fixes working conditions, and holds leadership accountable, no hotline or feedback form will make a real difference.
Nunavummiut deserve real action—not more empty promises. Read the Ilagiitsiarniq Family Wellness Strategic Framework if you want to see more examples of this.
Government of Nunavut. (2024). Family wellness strategic framework. https://www.gov.nu.ca/sites/default/files/documents/2024-06/DFS%20-%20Family%20Wellness%20Strategic%20Framework.pdf
Thank you, Saila, for speaking out about these realities. As someone with frontline experience, your perspective is especially important. The line between care and harm must be crystal clear, and when the system enables or overlooks abuse or neglect—whether through poor conditions, lack of resources, or leadership failures—there must be accountability.
It’s not enough for leadership to offer excuses or to blame staff who are struggling under impossible workloads. Real change requires action from the top: proper support, safe environments, and leaders who truly listen to both staff and the community. The cycle of reports and apologies can’t continue while children remain at risk and dedicated workers are burning out or being driven out. Frankly, the first one who needs to experience real accountability is the ADM—who lacks the proper qualifications and experience, and whose decisions are harming the community. Mr. Ellsworth – as you mentioned – blindly supports her decisions and has taken many complaints about her leadership.
It’s time for genuine transparency, accountability, and a real commitment to the goals set out in the Ilagiitsiarniq Family Wellness Strategic Framework. Nunavummiut deserve more than words—they deserve safety, dignity, and true change.