How to File a Complaint Against MCFD in BC

If MCFD has acted outside the law, failed to follow its own policies, or caused harm to your family through a decision you believe was unjust, you have formal avenues to challenge it. Filing a complaint is your right. The BC Ombudsperson and the Representative for Children and Youth are independent offices that can investigate without ministry interference.

No system is without error. MCFD workers make decisions under pressure, with incomplete information, in a framework that has historically disadvantaged Indigenous families. When those decisions are wrong, there are accountability mechanisms available.

Step 1: Complain to MCFD directly

The first step is raising your concern formally with MCFD itself. Ask the worker’s supervisor for a meeting. Put your complaint in writing. Document the specific decision or action you are challenging, the date it occurred, and what harm it caused or could cause.

Many complaints are resolved at this level when they are clearly stated and formally documented. If not, you have a written record to escalate.

Step 2: Escalate to the BC Ombudsperson

The BC Ombudsperson (ombudsperson.bc.ca) is an independent officer of the legislature. They investigate complaints about provincial government bodies, including MCFD. Their services are free.

If MCFD has not responded adequately to your complaint, the Ombudsperson can investigate independently and make recommendations. They cannot override court orders, but they can investigate whether MCFD followed its own policies and whether its conduct was fair.

Step 3: Contact the Representative for Children and Youth

The Representative for Children and Youth (rcybc.ca) is specifically focused on children and youth in the care system. They can advocate for your child directly, investigate decisions made by MCFD, and take systemic issues to the public and the legislature.

The RCY has produced several reports specifically on Indigenous children in care. They understand the systemic context and are an important advocacy resource.

Documenting your complaint effectively

A strong complaint includes:

• The specific decision or action you are challenging
• The date and the MCFD worker involved
• The impact on your child and family
• Evidence that MCFD did not follow its own policies or the law
• What outcome you are seeking

How IFISC relates to accountability

IFISC Pillar 6 — Community and Accountability — requires that certified providers have transparent accountability mechanisms with the communities they serve. The broader accountability system for MCFD itself is separate, but the principle is the same: decisions about Indigenous children must be made within a framework that has real consequences when they go wrong.

For peer support from families who have navigated complaints processes, contact KFT at [email protected] or visit keeping-families-together.com.

If you are an Indigenous family navigating child welfare in BC and need peer support, contact KFT-Families Society at [email protected], call Lori at 604-512-3266, or visit keeping-families-together.com. IFISC operates weekly peer support circles, connects families with culturally grounded resources, and provides guidance to parents at every stage of the child welfare process — at no cost.