The Minister of Correctional Services Was Questioned in the Legislature Regarding His Apparent Concealment of a Coroner's Report that was Very Seriously Flawed
The following is the Hansard of the critic's question and the Minister's evasive answer.
CORONER'S OFFICE
Mr. Garfield Dunlop: My question is for the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. This House has been following the saga of the Farlow family, Tim and Barb Farlow, for the last year or so at least. I spoke a couple of times on Bill 115, and again in response to you the other day. Also, Mr. Farlow has responded and had a deputation at the Bill 115 hearings.
They are here with family and friends seeking assurance that their baby Annie's death was natural and inevitable. After the chief coroner refused to answer questions, the family turned to you, Minister. In multiple letters to the family, the minister has repeatedly assured them that the coroner's report was sound and that a report existed that revealed that all of the narcotics used on the baby were accounted for.
The Farlows have asked you to provide written assurance that their question regarding the lethal narcotics given to their daughter will be answered. Minister, will you provide the family with that assurance?
Hon. Rick Bartolucci: Obviously, whenever there is tragedy within a family, everyone shares in that sympathy and everyone wants to ensure that as many answers as possible are given to the family. That's why we rely on our experts. That's why we rely on the chief coroner to provide the expertise in the determination of whatever final decision will be made. Obviously, our sympathy goes out, but I will defer always to those experts who can provide the best possible answers to those families who are grieving.
The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary.
Mr. Garfield Dunlop: Recently, the hospital admitted that they were not certain where the deadly narcotic used on their daughter had gone to. Clearly, the narcotics were not accounted for, and despite this, the minister refused to order a disinterment. The Farlows are correct in their belief that the coroner's report was seriously flawed. Serious questions are raised regarding whether the report that the coroner's office says it's relying on even exists today.
Minister, can you explain why you defended a coroner's document that has been proven not to account for the missing narcotics, as the coroner's report stated?
Hon. Rick Bartolucci: Again, in a very, very sensitive manner, I can only provide the best possible answer, given the facts. The facts in this instance are that the chief coroner-the coroner-is the best person, the most qualified person, the person who will look at all the evidence with professional eyes. I have to say that at the end of the day, he or she-that coroner, the chief coroner-is the one who is best positioned to give the answer, although it may not be the answer that an individual is looking for. It is the best possible answer that can be given, based on professional ethics.
Mr. Garfield Dunlop: My question is for the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services. This House has been following the saga of the Farlow family, Tim and Barb Farlow, for the last year or so at least. I spoke a couple of times on Bill 115, and again in response to you the other day. Also, Mr. Farlow has responded and had a deputation at the Bill 115 hearings.
They are here with family and friends seeking assurance that their baby Annie's death was natural and inevitable. After the chief coroner refused to answer questions, the family turned to you, Minister. In multiple letters to the family, the minister has repeatedly assured them that the coroner's report was sound and that a report existed that revealed that all of the narcotics used on the baby were accounted for.
The Farlows have asked you to provide written assurance that their question regarding the lethal narcotics given to their daughter will be answered. Minister, will you provide the family with that assurance?
Hon. Rick Bartolucci: Obviously, whenever there is tragedy within a family, everyone shares in that sympathy and everyone wants to ensure that as many answers as possible are given to the family. That's why we rely on our experts. That's why we rely on the chief coroner to provide the expertise in the determination of whatever final decision will be made. Obviously, our sympathy goes out, but I will defer always to those experts who can provide the best possible answers to those families who are grieving.
The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary.
Mr. Garfield Dunlop: Recently, the hospital admitted that they were not certain where the deadly narcotic used on their daughter had gone to. Clearly, the narcotics were not accounted for, and despite this, the minister refused to order a disinterment. The Farlows are correct in their belief that the coroner's report was seriously flawed. Serious questions are raised regarding whether the report that the coroner's office says it's relying on even exists today.
Minister, can you explain why you defended a coroner's document that has been proven not to account for the missing narcotics, as the coroner's report stated?
Hon. Rick Bartolucci: Again, in a very, very sensitive manner, I can only provide the best possible answer, given the facts. The facts in this instance are that the chief coroner-the coroner-is the best person, the most qualified person, the person who will look at all the evidence with professional eyes. I have to say that at the end of the day, he or she-that coroner, the chief coroner-is the one who is best positioned to give the answer, although it may not be the answer that an individual is looking for. It is the best possible answer that can be given, based on professional ethics.