Furey says he is troubled by potential 'systems failure that put children at risk'
N.L. premier acknowledges scope of review could change
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey says his administration has acted quickly to investigate allegations that were brought to light in a CBC Investigates report last week, and is defending the process now underway to get answers.
"It was so troubling to us to hear that there could have been a systems failure that put children at risk, that I wanted to do something, we wanted to do something immediately," Furey said in an interview Tuesday morning.
The premier directed the child and youth advocate's office to launch the investigation last week, two days after a CBC Investigates story on the Bruce Escott-Tony Humby youth sexual abuse case.
On Tuesday, the premier opened the door to changes in the scope of the investigation — and even who could be leading it.
The cabinet order directing the advocate to carry out the review calls for an investigation into "policies and procedures in place to ensure the safety and well-being of children and youth in receipt of protective intervention services where a report is received alleging that a child or youth has been sexually abused or exploited."
Furey said those terms "will enable us to look at the systems interaction and, if not, then we'll change the scope."
Last week, retired Crown prosecutor Mike Murray questioned the choice of child and youth advocate Linda Clemens Spurrell to do the investigation, noting that she was previously a senior official in the Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development (CSSD).
"She'd be investigating herself," Murray told CBC Radio's St. John's Morning Show on Friday.
Furey downplayed those concerns, saying he has faith in the advocate that she will recognize any potential conflicts, disclose them, and deal with them appropriately.
"Life is full of conflicts. It's not about the conflict itself, it's about how you handle it," Furey said.
He stressed that they have asked the advocate's office — not the advocate herself — to do the investigation.
"If the advocate herself says 'I'm in conflict,' then we can establish supports to deal with that conflict," Furey said.
"I think what's more important is that we're taking immediate action. The conflicts can be resolved if they exist, and if they exist, then we need somebody else and that's fine. And I'm sure the advocate would say that too."
Last week, CBC Investigates reported on police search warrant documents — which are untested in court — that provide an account of how group home workers, social workers and the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary were aware of allegations involving Humby for several years.
According to the documents, police investigated and cleared Humby of a sexual assault complaint in 2007, only to return to the complainant in 2023 and decide to press a charge.
The court filings show that concerns began to grow in November 2019, when a social worker called the RNC to report that a 14-year-old boy was "in a sexual relationship" with Humby.
Concerns about Humby were logged in CSSD case files in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. He was charged in April 2023.
Clemens Spurrell was assistant deputy minister for the child and youth services branch of CSSD from 2019 to 2022.
In comments to reporters Tuesday, Children, Seniors and Social Development Minister Paul Pike echoed the premier's comments about the advocate's role in the process moving forward.
"The child and youth advocate will determine whether or not she feels that she should be doing this review, and I'm sure she'll make the decision accordingly," Pike told CBC.
Pike said he wasn't sure what would happen to the review if the advocate flagged conflicts that prevented her from taking part.
Criminal proceedings continue against Humby, Escott
Humby has pleaded not guilty to 33 sex-related offences. His trial is set to begin in March.
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary announced 39 more charges against Humby last Tuesday, in the hours after the first CBC Investigates story was published. Humby is also facing two more counts of sexual assault related to his time in custody awaiting trial.
Escott has a plea agreement with the Crown, and is due back in court on his 14 charges in November.
The two men were neighbours on Hussey Drive near the airport in St. John's for many years.
Premier says review will focus on department, not police
Meanwhile, Furey confirmed that the investigation by the advocate's office will focus on CSSD, not the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.
"At this point, there are allegations that the system and the department had interactions, and that's entirely within government's purview and control," Furey said.
"Of course, we don't direct the police. The police are independent of government."
The RNC has stressed that the Escott-Humby matter remains an active and ongoing investigation, while noting that "there has been dramatic shift in criminal law over the last decade with respect to sexual violence, specifically involving youth complainants."
Furey did not give a specific time frame for the advocate's report to be completed, although he did note "the urgency that is required, given that we are talking about children."
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