95% of kids in B & L homes have been visited while province reviews foster agency

A week after the Manitoba government ordered a review of a Winnipeg foster care agency facing allegations of sexual abuse at a home it was responsible for, officials have met with most of the children in the agency's care.

The province announced last weekit would ensure every foster child overseen by B & L Resources for Children and Youth isspoken with, at a location outside the home so they can speak freely.

In a week, more than 95 per cent of children have been approached by CFS agencies,Families Minister Heather Stefanson revealed during question period Monday.

"There's still a little bit more work to do," Stefanson told her colleagues at the Manitoba Legislature, "and we will continue to work with the agencies and authorities to ensurethat."

The provinceordered a review of B & L on Nov. 24, following aCBCinvestigationin whicha secret recording revealed a manager from B & L admitted the companydid not act quickly enoughafter sex abuse allegationsinvolving a minor arose in afoster home overseen by B & L.

The government has refused to disclose the number of children in the care of B & L, citing the ongoing review, overseenby deputy minister of FamiliesJay Rodgers. As of 2016, 275 children were staying at B & L homes.

While the review is underway, no more children will be placed in homesrun by B & L, the province said.

Abuseperpetrated by minor

CBCNews initially reported last month on an allegation thatchildren were being sexually abused by a minor in a foster home overseen by B & L that surfaced in 2016.

A director with thefoster care company said he failed to act quickly enough after the allegations came forward, ina 2017 secret recording obtained byCBCNews.

"We dragged our heels big time," he is heard saying in the recording.

Last week, CBCreported on another allegation ofsexual abuse froma man hired by the company.

Through his lawyer, the 66-year-old foster father has denied the charges, which reportedly involvedtwo boys he was fostering with his wife between 2009 and 2015.

As of 2016, more than a dozen agencies sent children in care to B & L foster homes, including WinnipegChild and Family Services, West RegionCFS,MetisCFSand DakotaOjibwayCFS.

Bruce Bertrand-Meadows, managing director of B & L, said "the safety and well-being of children entrusted to our care has always been and remains B &L'sprimary focus" in a recent statement.