" 0

NOVA

SCOTIA

OFFICE

OF
THE DEPUTY MINISTER

March 21, 1973

,-

Dr. William Gillis Minister of Public Welfare Province of Nova Scotia Halifax, Nova Scotia
Dear Dr. Gillis,
Re: Grant for Nova Scotia Home

for Coloured Children Study. Enclosed herewith please find a copy of a letter received from Mr. D. H.
Johnson and a copy of a letter received from Mr. J. A. MacKenzie,

regarding the above mentioned. You will note that both of these officials recommend against a grant for the above mentioned study.
I agree fully with their recommendations. I agree with Mr. MacKenzie's observation that the firm of Rafuse, Marintet and Dwyer is not competent to undertake a study of this dimension. I also concerned about the observation made in their study outline to the effect that when the study is completed they may continue If we allow ourselves to get into this arrangement with the firm of Rafuse, Marintet and Dwyer, we will be purchasing an escalating responsibility from which we cannot extract ourselves. Mr. MacKenzie is competent.to evaluate a Research

and Study program and it is his considered view that the outline is unacceptable. The observation that the Board of the Nova Scotia Home for Coloured Children made an agreement with us and then proceeded to act unilaterally, is also an important fact in this decision.
If we do not permit ourselves to get involved, we will then be in a position to defend ourselves i;;lf the Home gee's ahead with the study and undertakes the usual muck-raking and mud-slinging which is characteristic of this kind of effort where Government is concerned.

f ithfully,

- F. R. MacKi non

Deputy FRM/ilp Att:

''-

DepartQJJ!.fl.J gfL PuhJ1(;J

,,_,.,
NOVA SCOTIA

;Halifax, N. S. March 19, 1973

Dr. F. R. MacKinnon Deputy Minister Department of Public Welfare Halifax, Nova Scotia Dear Dr. MacKinnon: RE: Nova Scotia Coloured Home Study.

I am writing with reference to your letter of March 13, re the above. Mr. Burns and I have met with Mr. J. A. MacKenzie and he will be making his report. I want to make clear my own position in this matter. Since the Board of the Home for Coloured Children have not followed the terms of the agreement our Department had with them and since they are proposing a much broader study than originally planned I recommend that the Department not share in any way in the costs of the study being proposed by the consultants. Many of the items that the consultants have proposed to consider could be answered in a matter of minutes by staff members of the Family and Child Welfare Division and by ohr own departmental auditor. The need still exists for the kind of study originally agreed to. However, the current proposal is far removed from that. Yours sincerely,
,r--7-/ / " ' / -Ti!-. !L /'( :,..- D. H. Johnson, R.s.w. ADMINISTRATOR FAMILY & CHILD WELFARE

./

/'

DHJ/km

- ---- .. ).1
. 'I

PROVINCE 'OF NOVA SCOTIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE (INTER-DEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE) PRNATE & CONFIDENTIAL 20, 1973 DATE FROM: J. A. MacKenzie --------------Director --------------_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ :;;p _ _ _ _

TO:

---------------Deputy Minister --------------------------------SUBJECT: _

Dr. F. R. MacKinnon

Research

&Plannina

:_ __ Evaluation of the Nova Scotia

I have now had an opportunity to review the above proposal (attached) as well as a copy of Mr. Michael J. Marentette' s letter to Mr. Kevin Burns (attached). in funding this study.
My reasons are simple -------

I would strongly recommend that we not get involved

1. This is an evaluation of an institution and none of the partners have had any experience in the institutional fielC: (see attached curriculum vitae)

The presentation of the proposed evaluation outline is weak, fuzzy and in my opinion not worthy of funding. For example, phase one states as its purpose "to clarify existing known problems and to identify unknown and/or unforseen problems being presently experienced by the Home". Are the consultants' saying if the staff are not aware of any problems, they will create some for them. This is crazy.
2.
l:_ At the outset, and following the Hall Reporf, a Committee of two (Mr. Kevin Burns and Mr. Jules Oliver) was set up representing our Department and the Board of the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children. It was agreed that neither party involved would move to appoint a study team without mutual consent. This was the basis for our $1,500.00 input. The Board of the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children has moved to employ Community Consultants unilaterally. In my estimation, this makes our agreement and consequent commitment void.

,_
- 2 -

In the section of the proposal on "Instructions and Approvals", CClll1IIlUllity Consultants state categorically that the actions of the consultants shall be subject to the instructions and approval of the Board of Directors of the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children signified through an authorized Board official. As far as I am concerned, this negates any control by our Department over the consulting team. Even more objectionable from a research point of view -- it implies the consulting group will write and say what the Board of the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children want them to say. How nruch credence can one give an evaluation that starts out on this premise. It would appear from the proposal that Community Consultants intend to expand their evaluation into the community. This is contrary to the agreement we had for an internal evaluation of the present program in the Home. In short, to fund this study is simply paying for a stick to beat ourselves. Furthermore, if the Board of the Nova Scotia . Home for Colored Children decide to proceed on their own, we should make it quite clear that Departmental files will not be made available to the study group. Otherwise, we are simply asking for another "scourging at the public pillar". Sincerely yours, 5.

4.

i I '

rector, Research &Planning JAMacK/dh c. c. Mr. D.H. Johnson

Q MacKenzie, A.