In Canada, anyone who suspects that a child has been abused or is at risk for abuse, has the legal duty to report the abuse to child protection agencies established in his/her province or territory. Below is a summary of the relevant resources for reporting from each province and territory.
Note: The information under ‘Key Information’ can change depending on changes/revisions made in the province/territory to the legislation governing child protection. Please check the link provided to the actual legislation to ensure you have access to the most up to date information.
Alberta
Key Information | How to Report |
Do individuals in Alberta have a legal duty to report abuse or suspected abuse immediately to a child protection agency? YES How old is a child in Alberta? A person is a child until his/her 18th birthday. Protection from Liability If a person reports suspected child abuse, s/he cannot be sued if it is proven that the report was made in good faith, and not intended to cause trouble for anyone. Failure to Report If a person fails to report suspected child abuse, there is a possibility of a charge and a fine of up to $2000, or imprisonment of up to 6 months if the fine is not paid. In addition to the above penalty, if a person who works with children has known about and not reported a suspicion of child abuse, an appropriate governing body of the profession or occupation of that individual will be notified. | For information on reporting abuse or suspected abuse, please go here. For the contact information of Child and Family Services for specific regions, please go here. |
British Columbia
Key Information | How to Report |
Do individuals in British Columbia have a legal duty to report abuse or suspected abuse immediately to a child protection agency? YES How old is a child in British Columbia? A person is a child until his/her 19th birthday. Protection from Liability If a person reports suspected child abuse, s/he cannot be sued if it is proven that the report was made in good faith, and to cause trouble for anyone. Failure to Report If a person fails to report suspected child abuse or knowingly reports false information, s/he can be charged with a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment of up to 6 months, or both. | For information on reporting abuse or suspected abuse, please go here: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/public-safety/protecting-children/reporting-child-abuse Link to Legislature: http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/consol21/ consol21/00_96046_01 |
Manitoba
Key Information | How to Report |
Do individuals in Manitoba have a legal duty to report abuse or suspected abuse immediately to a child protection agency? YES How old is a child in Manitoba? A person is a child until his/her 18th birthday. Protection from Liability If a person reports suspected child abuse, s/he cannot be sued if it is proven that the report was made in good faith, and not to cause trouble for anyone. Failure to Report If a person fails to report suspected child abuse, that person can be held guilty of an offence and may be liable to a fine up to $50,000 or imprisonment of up to 24 months, or both. | For information on reporting abuse or suspected abuse, please go here: http://www.gov.mb.ca/fs/childfam/child_protection_faq.html For the contact information of Child and Family Services Agency in specific regions, please go here: http://www.gov.mb.ca/fs/childfam/cfsagencies.html Link to Legislature: http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/ccsm/c080e.php |
New Brunswick
Key Information | How to Report |
Do individuals in New Brunswick have a legal duty to report abuse or suspected abuse immediately to a child protection agency? YES How old is a child in New Brunswick? A person is a child until his/her 19th birthday. Protection from Liability If a person reports suspected child abuse, s/he cannot be sued if it is proven that the report was made in good faith, and not to cause trouble for anyone. Failure to Report If a person who works with children fails to report suspected child abuse, the Minister may require any professional society, association, or other organization authorized under the laws of the Province to regulate the professional activities of that person, in order to conduct an investigation. | For information on reporting abuse or suspected abuse, please go here: http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/services/ services_renderer.9355.Child_Protection.html Link to Legislature: http://laws.gnb.ca/en/showpdf/cs/F-2.2.pdf |
Newfoundland
Key Information | How to Report |
Do individuals in Newfoundland have a legal duty to report abuse or suspected abuse immediately to a child protection agency? YES How old is a child in Newfoundland? A person is a child until his/her 16th birthday. Protection from Liability If a person reports suspected child abuse, s/he cannot be sued if it is proven that the report was made in good faith, and not to cause trouble for anyone. Failure to Report If a person fails to report to suspected abuse, s/he may be charged with an offence and may be given a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment of up to 6 months, or both. | For information on reporting abuse or suspected abuse, please go here: http://www.health.gov.nl.ca/health/childrenyouthfamilies/ Link to Legislature: http://www.assembly.nl.ca/Legislation/sr/statutes/c12-2.htm |
Northwest Territories
Key Information | How to Report |
Do individuals in the Northwest Territories have a legal duty to report abuse or suspected abuse immediately to a child protection agency? YES How old is a child in the Northwest Territories? A person is a child until his/her 16th birthday. Protection from Liability If a person reports suspected child abuse, s/he cannot be sued if it is proven that the report was made in good faith and not to cause trouble for anyone. Failure to Report If a person fails to report suspected child abuse, there is a possibility of a charge and fine up to $5,000 or a prison term of up to 6 months, or both. | For information on reporting abuse or suspected abuse, please go here: http://www.yhssa.hss.gov.nt.ca/social-services/services-children-and-youth/concerned-about-child-0 For more information, go here: http://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/sites/www.hss.gov.nt.ca/files/what-think-child-being-abused-neglected.pdf Link to Legislature: https://www.justice.gov.nt.ca/en/files/legislation/child-family-services/child-family-services.a.pdf |
Nova Scotia
Key Information | How to Report |
Do individuals in Nova Scotia have a legal duty to report abuse or suspected abuse immediately to a child protection agency? YES How old is a child in Nova Scotia? A person is a child until his/her 18th birthday. Protection from Liability If a person reports suspected child abuse, s/he cannot be sued if it is proven that the report was made in good faith, and not to cause trouble for anyone. Failure to Report If a person fails to report suspected child abuse, s/he can be charged and fined up to $2000 or imprisoned for up to 6 months, or both. | For information on reporting abuse or suspected abuse, please go here: http://novascotia.ca/coms/families/abuse/ For the contact information of the Child Welfare Agency in specific regions, please go here: http://novascotia.ca/coms/department/contact/index.html Link to Legislation: |
Nunavut
Key Information | How to Report |
Do individuals in Nunavut have a legal duty to report abuse or suspected abuse immediately to a child protection agency? YES How old is a child in Nunavut? A person is a child until his/her 16th birthday. Protection from Liability If a person reports suspected child abuse, s/he cannot be sued if it is proven that the report was made in good faith and not to cause trouble for anyone. Failure to Report If a person fails to report suspected child abuse, there is a possibility of a charge and fine up to $5,000 or a prison term of up to 6 months, or both. | For information on reporting abuse or suspected abuse, please go here: http://www.gov.nu.ca/family-services/information/children-family-services For information on getting help for family violence, please go here: http://www.gov.nu.ca/family-services/information/family-violence Link to Legislation: http://gov.nu.ca/sites/default/files/children-family-services-act.pdf |
Ontario
Key Information | How to Report |
Do individuals in Ontario have a legal duty to report abuse or suspected abuse immediately to a child protection agency? YES How old is a child in Ontario? A person is a child until his/her 16th birthday. Protection from Liability If a person reports suspected child abuse, s/he cannot be sued if it is proven that the report was made in good faith, and not to cause trouble for anyone. Failure to Report If a person who has professional or official duties in his/her work with children does not report suspected child abuse, then this person can be charged and fined up to $1000. | For information on reporting abuse or suspected abuse, please go here: http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/childrensaid/ For the contact information of the Children’s Aid Society in specific regions, please go here: http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/childrensaid/ reportingabuse/CASLocations.aspx Link to Legislation: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90c11 |
Prince Edward Island
Key Information | How to Report |
Do individuals in Prince Edward Island have a legal duty to report abuse or suspected abuse immediately to a child protection agency? YES How old is a child in Prince Edward Island? A person is a child until his/her 18th birthday. Protection from Liability If a person reports suspected child abuse, s/he cannot be sued if it is proven that the report was made in good faith, and not to cause trouble for anyone. Failure to Report If a person fails to report to suspected child abuse, s/he can be charged and fined up to $2000. | For information on reporting abuse or suspected abuse, please go here: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/child-protection For more information on child sexual abuse, please go here: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/family-and-human-services/child-sexual-abuse Link to Legislation: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/sites/default/files/legislation/c-05_1.pdf |
Quebec
Key Information | How to Report |
Do individuals in Quebec have a legal duty to report abuse or suspected abuse immediately to a child protection agency? YES How old is a child in Quebec? A person is a child until his/her 18th birthday. Protection from Liability If a person reports suspected child abuse, s/he cannot be sued if it is proven that the report was made in good faith, and not to cause trouble for anyone. Failure to Report A professional who fails to report, and anyone who fails to report suspected physical or sexual abuse, can be found guilty of an offence and be fined between $250 and $2500. | For information on reporting abuse or suspected abuse, please go here: http://www.cdpdj.qc.ca/en/droits-de-la-jeunesse/Pages/DPJ.aspx Link to Legislation: |
Saskatchewan
Key Information | How to Report |
Do individuals in Saskatchewan have a legal duty to report abuse or suspected abuse immediately to a child protection agency? YES How old is a child in Saskatchewan? A person is a child until his/her 16th birthday. Protection from Liability If a person reports suspected child abuse, s/he cannot be sued. Failure to Report If a person fails to report suspected child abuse, s/he is guilty of an offence with a fine of up to $25,000 or be imprisoned for up to 24 months, or both. | For information on reporting abuse or suspected abuse, please go here: For the contact information of Social Services Offices in specific regions: https://www.saskatchewan.ca/residents/family-and-social-support/find-a-social-services-office Link to Legislation: http://www.qp.gov.sk.ca/documents/english/statutes/statutes/C7-2.PDF |
Yukon
Key Information | How to Report |
Do individuals in Yukon have a legal duty to report abuse or suspected abuse immediately to a child protection agency? YES How old is a child in Yukon? A person is a child until his/her 19th birthday. Protection from Liability If a person reports suspected child abuse, s/he cannot be sued if it is proven that the report was made in good faith and did not knowingly present false information. Failure to Report If a person fails to report suspected child abuse, there is a possibility of a charge and fine up to $10,000 or a prison term up to 1 year, or both. Should that same individual fail to report again, s/he can be charged and fined up to $20,000 or have to serve a prison term for as long as 2 years, or both. | For information on reporting abuse or suspected abuse, please go here: http://www.hss.gov.yk.ca/childabuse.php Link to Legislation: http://www.gov.yk.ca/legislation/acts/chfase_c.pdf |