Print this pageAnnual Reports
Inaugural Annual Report 2020-2021
Strategic Plans
Submissions to Legislative Standing Committees
Presentation to the Standing Committee on Education and Economic Growth - September 18, 2025
OCYA Submission to the Standing Committee of Education and Economic Growth: Bill 129 An Act to Amend the Early Learning and Childcare Act (January 2023)
Other Submissions
Position Statement of the PEI OCYA in Response to Commissioner Jenkin's Report regarding Student Safety in Island Schools - February 19, 2026
Prioritizing Student Safety: Working Together to Establish a Child Rights-Respecting Culture in Education December 11, 2025
Promoting the Rights, Interests and Well-Being of Children and Youth - Learning Together: An Independent Child Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA) on the Draft PEI Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act (December 2021)
Response to Bills
OCYA Response to Bill 26, An Act to Amend the Child, Youth and Family Services Act (No. 2) (April 28, 2026)
OCYA Response to Bill 32: The Proposed Child, Youth and Family Services Act (November 2023)
Special Reports
The Child and Youth Advocate will table Special Reports publicly as needed.
Correspondence
Social Development and Seniors Response to Advocate's Recommendation February 26, 2026
Advocate's Recommendation to the Department of Social Development and Seniors February 20, 2026
OCYA Letter to Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General re: Proposed Amendments to the PEI Change of Name Act and the PEI Vital Statistics Act (October 30, 2023)
UN Committee on the Rights of the Child - Supplementary Alternative Submissions with PEI Reference (April 26, 2022)
Op Eds
The Guardian: Rights, respect and the harmful bullying faced by youth in PEI (December 4, 2025)
The Eastern Graphic: Rights, respect and the harmful bullying faced by children and youth in PEI (December 2, 2025)
The Guardian - PEI Child and Youth Advocate Raises Alarms over Student Safety - September 23, 2025
The Eastern Graphic: How does the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate deliver child advocacy? (September 13, 2023)
The Guardian: Violence against children is never justifiable (May 9, 2022)
Journal Pioneer: Opinion: Child and Youth Advocate not simply a 'valued stakeholder' (February 5, 2021)
The Eastern Graphic: Children's rights in PEI are everyone's responsibility - especially now (November 18, 2020)
Press Releases
Press Release - Collaboration for Meaningful Change March 18, 2026
Press Release - Annual Report 2024-2025
Press Release - Office of the Child and Youth Advocate Releases Second Report Monitoring the Implementation of Recommendations to the Education System December 11, 2025
Press Release - OCYA Releases Report Monitoring the Implementation of Recommendations - June 26, 2025
Safety of Children in Island Schools - Press Release with accompanying Position Statement, May 2025
Growing Confidence in the Work and Achievements of OCYA Press Release, November 20, 2024
Making a Real Difference - Press Release December 13, 2023
National Child Day Press Release November 20, 2023
Press Release - Work Lies Ahead to Support Successful Implementation of the Proposed Child, Youth and Family Services Act (November 2023)
Moving Forward – More Work to be Done to Realize Children’s Rights in PEI (Press Release June 2023
Raising the Bar on Children's Rights on PEI (November 16, 2022)
Child and Youth Advocate to Investigate Child Death (August 17, 2022)
Every Child has a right to be Safe (June 14, 2021)
Child and Youth Advisory Committee of the PEI Office of the Child and Youth Advocate is recruiting (March 24, 2021)
Child and Youth Advocate to Oversee PEI Children & Youth Table (October 8, 2020)
La défenseure des enfants et de la jeunesse dirigera la Table des enfants et de la jeunesse de l’Î.-P.-É. (Jeudi 8 octobre 2020)
Interviews
Island Morning Child and Youth Advocate Calls for Legislative Changes - March 18, 2026
The Guardian: P.E.I. child advocate finds Jenkins report creates confusion around reporting child harm, February 25, 2026
The Eastern Graphic: OCYA Response to the Jenkins Report, February 25, 2026
CBC Mainstreet: CBC's Nicola MacLeod has a conversation with PEI's child and youth advocate who weighs in on the Jenkins Report, February 20, 2026
The Guardian: Advocate gives PEI a failing grade on advance child rights, December 23, 2025
CBC - PEI's New Child Protection Law Making Progress but More Work Needed - September 6, 2025
CBC - P.E.I. making 'exceedingly slow' progress on child advocate recommendations - July 2, 2025
PEI child and youth advocate may still investigate PSB | PNI Atlantic News, May 22, 2025
P.E.I. Child and Youth Advocate questions inquiry into PSB's handling of Craswell case (CBC- May 22, 2025)
Proposed Law Would be 'Historic' for Children's Rights on PEI (CBC - November 2023)
PEI's Proposed Child Protection Law Ahead of the Curve (Saltwire - November 2023)
Commentary: Misconceptions about child advocacy (Saltwire September 2023)
CBC: Teens should be able to change name and gender, says P.E.I.'s child and youth advocate
CBC: Independent Investigation Launched into Case of PEI Boy Sent to Live in Alberta (April 2023)
The Guardian: Child and Youth Advocate to Investigate Case of PEI-born Boy Sent to Live with Father in Alberta (April 2023)
The Guardian: PEI Child Advocate recommends stronger vulnerable-sector checks for childcare staff (February 16, 2023)
P.E.I. Child Advocate concerned about proposed changes to vulnerable sector checks for child-care workers (November 14, 2022)
CBC: P.E.I.'s child advocate to investigate 2020 death of Olivia Rodd (August 17, 2022)
The Guardian: P.E.I. child advocate to investigate death of 9-year-old Olivia Rodd (August 17, 2022)
The Guardian: Boy's rights must be at centre of third party review of Child Protective Services in P.E.I., advocate says (June 20, 2022)
CBC: Child advocate calls for review of case involving P.E.I boy sent to Alberta (June 15, 2022)
CBC Island Morning: Child advocate calls for review of case involving boy sent to Alberta (June 15, 2022)
CBC: P.E.I. government plans 3rd-party review of case involving boy sent to Alberta (June 15, 2022)
CBC: Father of 3 takes his vaccine-hesitant ex-partner to court (March 8, 2022)
CBC: New legislation will curb access to government information, says P.E.I. child advocate (March 1, 2022)
CTV News Atlantic: Murder-suicide inquest raises questions about how P.E.I. deals with at-risk families (February 25, 2022)
CBC: New policy coming for P.E.I. students to report gender discrimination incidents, says child and youth advocate (February 18, 2022)
CBC: Poor co-ordination causing extra stigma for children at risk in schools, child advocate says (November 21, 2021)
CBC: School complaints process 'highly problematic,' says P.E.I. child advocate (October 26, 2021)
PNI Atlantic News: Systemic changes needed following student walkout, says P.E.I.'s child and youth advocate (October 21, 2021)
CBC: PEI child advocate keeping eye on inquest into mother-daughter deaths (October 7, 2021)
CBC: PEI child advocate critical of province's back-to-school plan (September 23, 2021)
CBC: PEI child advocate to complete review after boy's death ruled accidental (August 20, 2021)
CBC: LGBTQ community, youth advocate, welcome report on bullying at East Wiltshire (August 13, 2021)
The Guardian: 'It happens every day': Homophobia, racism and sexism present in P.E.I. schools says child advocate (July 27, 2021)
CBC: Homophobia and transphobia in P.E.I. schools a 'serious and systemic' issue, youth advocate says (July 27, 2021)
The Guardian: Events at P.E.I. school 'deeply disturbing,' says child and youth advocate (June 14, 2021)
Journal Pioneer: Pilot project at Holland College to assist current and former youth in care (February 25, 2021)
The Eastern Graphic: Pink Shirt Day, a chance for education on long-term impacts of bullying (February 24, 2021)
Holland College: Pilot project to assist current and former youth in care (February 22, 2021)
Journal Pioneer: PEI's decision to end birth alerts should have included child and youth advocate, but decision wouldn't have changed (February 21, 2021)
CBC: PEI's child and youth advocate says he wasn't consulted over birth alert change (February 7, 2021)
CBC: ici.radio-canada.ca. Meutre-suicide: le nouveau défenseur des enfants de I’Î.-P.-É. A pied d’œuvre (Juillet 22, 2020)
Available for members of the Media: Marvin M. Bernstein, Child and Youth Advocate / PEI - biography