Failsafe LanarkAn Advocacy group formed by similar families and friends suffering the same scrutiny from the Children's Aid Society.(Sarah Laurin, Founder of Failsafe, 2009, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada)

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This page contains letters written and delivered by Failsafe admistration. They are addressed to MP's, MPP's Judges, other advocacy groups and more.

This page will be updated regularily so that our progress can be monitored by people who have taken an interest in our goals here.

Feel free to browse these letters and submit comments should you have any.

A Letter To Federal and Provincial Members of Parliament

It has come to my attention that various child protection workers under the employ of the CAS Perth, Smiths Falls and Carleton Place are misusing their authority by employing personal bias and for lack of a better term “profiling” families in this region. Individuals with prior involvement with the Society are being unfairly targeted. Those who fall under a low income demographic or who perhaps have come into contact with the criminal justice system are not provided the same consideration as those able to retain legal counsel ( not Duty Counsel representation ). There appears to be no forum for addressing these concerns in court- the judges do not allow parents to raise the issue that very often there is little to no proof to substantiate the allegations which brought their family under CAS scrutiny to begin with!!! To this end: I have established a support group in our region to address these concerns. Our name is “FAILSAFE”- which stands for Families Apart In Lanark Co. Supporting Advocacy Fairness and Empowerment. Although the Society is not accountable to the Ombudsman’s Office; it is my hope that families in this region will share information which will shed light on this epidemic in our community. Ideally I would like to empower the people in our region to rally together in support of BILL93 being passed into legislation. In addition ; we are more likely to empower each other by providing information regarding “supports and resources” in our community that CAS does not provide to the families they place in crisis. It is incredible to me that CAS is so able to control families through fear and secrecy- similar to abuse we observe in domestic violence. There are many individuals in my community who do not know how to defend themselves against CAS tyranny!!! I have had many ask me to advocate on their behalf and I willingly take on this challenge- even though it has been suggested to me that to do so could cause the CAS to reconsider returning my daughter to my custody!!! Apparently I must be considered a threat to the CAS in my community who would like to silence our fledgling coalition,… This in my estimation is a violation of many of the constitutional rights afforded to myself and other proud Canadians- such as the Freedom of speech, Freedom of Privacy and the Freedom of association!! Do you not agree that measures need to be taken against the CAS in order to empower and protect the rights of Ontario families??

Sarah Laurin's Letter to the Judge When CAS Moved to Terminate Their Case Against Her.

Today it is the intent of the CAS to terminate the Supervision Order that has been in place since June 2009. I would like to take this opportunity to ask the CAS what they feel they accomplished where their interference with my family is concerned?? Surely nothing was achieved with the exception of uprooting a perfectly well adjusted child from her home without justifiable reason,… At no point since the outset of this situation have any assessments been conducted to determine if my child was in need of protection. None of the allegations against me have been substantiated. Likewise there have been no assessments of my mental state although CAS workers have framed their affadavits in such a way that it appears that it’s a “fact” not merely an observation that I am mentally unstable. I do not believe that child protection workers are qualified to make a medical diagnosis,… I have not been ordered by the court to participate in any programs or to attend counselling. It has not been suggested that my daughter attend counselling but surely if she was a “child at risk” this would have been stipulation of the CAS and the court. Throughout this case my family and I have been misquoted and conversations taken out of context to justify the involvement of the CAS. Court documents have been improperly served and served outside of time constraints. My partner- Mr Jakobsen- has never been served documents although he is listed as a repondant. Meanwhile- my ex-husband Mr Laurin continues to be served even though he was found in default and has been “struck” from the record. Mr Laurin has not attended a single court appearance. He owes court costs in Family Court in Ottawa and has been in default of every court order placed in front of him. He has had no involvement with our daughter since she was 8 months old. He was abusive-this is a proven fact not merely an allegation as with Mr Jakobsen,… I have never been more fearful of anyone in my life. Likewise; I have never held as much contempt or disdain for anyone in my life,… The CAS has given Mr Laurin the opportunity to have insight into my life and to know where our child is,… I feel that we have been placed in harms way as a result of this,… I would also like it to be noted that I have a restraining order against Mr Laurin as a result of domestic violence in order to protect my family and myself. Additionally; Mr Laurin had his access to his children suspended in 2005. I have not altered my position on this matter since CAS first became involved. I contend that circumstances escalated as a result of the personal bias and abuse of power by the initial child protection worker Ms Sandra Evoy. Non-compliant and Uncooperative were characterizations attached to me because I questioned the authority of the CAS and the validity of their sources. I have proven time and time again that I am a capable and responsible parent. It is unbelievable to me that the decision of one case-worker could carry more weight than the decision of 2 separate judges who granted me full custody of my children-one of whom wasn’t biologically mine!! Apparently the CAS in every prior involvement closing the file wasn’t indicative of my ability either,… As a result of the CAS involvement with my family I have nearly lost everything,… My relationship with my daughter has been irreparably damaged. The dynamic of my relationship with my parents will never be the same. I lost credibility with members of my community and with long-time family friends,… I have been pushed to the point of financial dependence upon my parents and the likelihood that I will have to move from a home I love because I can’t afford its upkeep on my own. I am reliant upon my parents for transportation and this limits my independence or ability to retain employment. Emotionally; I am devastated. I lost 2 of the people who mean the most to me in the world. My partner was so despondant as a result of the CAS decision to separate us (in addition to extenuating circumstances un-related to this matter) that he attempted to take his own life,… I have lost my confidence as a parent and my relationship with my child has become more like that between a niece and her favourite aunt. We used to be so close but restrictive access, distance and time have wreaked havoc on what we shared,… I have become suspicious of my neighbours and fearful that at any moment my reputation could be torn to shreds based upon little more than vindictive accusations. Thus; I do not feel that I can have my daughter return to live with me,… I will not work “voluntarily” with the CAS when I feel I’ve done nothing wrong!! If they should become involved again my position would be the same!! I will not put my family through that kind of humiliation, heartache and upheaval again…. I feel that the CAS took a functioning family unit and tore it to pieces. There has been little to no supervision throughout this process. There has been a steady parade of workers in this case (only one of whom ever met “with” my daughter and I.) None of the workers have any insight as to what my life was like before and they certainly have no concept of what life is like now,… I was asked by the worker what I would like to see happen and I told her “I want my life back,..” That is unlikely to happen and if this did come to pass I have little doubt that we would be judged and convicted by CAS without being given a chance just as we were before,… Certainly the CAS is not going to apologize or exonerate us. The damage is done and can never be reversed. I don’t know what the future holds for us anymore. I certainly do not have the same expectations that I did 9 months ago. I am not the same person I was 9 months ago. She has been replaced by someone else,… This is what the CAS accomplished by their investigation. I appeal to your honour to look into this travesty and if its within your authority to request that the CAS leave my daughter, my family and myself alone. I believe that it has been demonstrated consistently that CAS acted in poor faith where this case was concerned. Logic predicates that no child abuse occurred in the 16 years prior to this case and no child abuse will occur in the next 16