Katelynn Sampson's Mother Applauds Act to Enshrine Katelynn's Principle
Bernice Sampson, mother of
Katelynn Sampson, welcomes news of the introduction of Monique Taylor’s Private
Member's Bill to make Katelynn’s Principle law. Through her counsel, Ms. Sampson
said “making Katelynn’s Principle law will help keep Katelynn’s memory alive
and will help other children”. Ms. Sampson hopes that the Bill passes quickly
and that the rest of the jury’s recommendations are implemented as soon as
possible. She is grateful to Ms. Taylor and for the young people who came to
the Legislature today to speak out and support making Katelynn’s Principle
law.
On October 24, 2016, Ms. Sampson organized
and gathered with concerned citizens, friends and family at Parkdale Public
School on what would have been Katelynn’s 16th birthday to celebrate
her short life, remember and honour Katelynn and to call for change to protect
children and youth in Ontario by implementing Katelynn’s Principle and the
jury’s recommendations.
Katelynn’s Principle was at the heart of
the recommendations of the inquest into the death of Katelynn Sampson which concluded
on April 29, 2016. The jury made 173 recommendations. On June 21, 2016, Ms.
Sampson, through her counsel, wrote to the Premier of Ontario urging her to
adopt and implement Katelynn's Principle and the jury’s recommendations.
Ms. Sampson’s lawyer, Suzan Fraser of
Fraser Advocacy, stated that the Bill is “an important step forward to ensuring that
children’s right to be heard in matters affecting them is recognized. The jury made it clear that it is time for
children to be heard in accordance with the rights under the United Nations Convention
on the Rights of the Child.”
