Here is the text of the remarks of Hamilton Centre MPP Andrea Horwath from her press conference on February 27, 2009, on why she is calling for a public inquiry into the murder of Jared Osidacz, 8.

Calling for a public inquiry is not something I take lightly. But in the case of the brutal murder of eight-year-old Jared Osidacz, the government has left us no other option.

I have tried every method available to hold the McGuinty government to the intent of Bill 89: a stand-alone inquest in which ALL the facts of this horrific case would be told.

Repeatedly, I questioned the Minister - Rick Bartolucci - and Premier McGuinty in the Ontario Legislature.

Repeatedly, I urged the Minister to use his power under Section 22 of The Coroner's Act to override the Coroner's decision to couple Jared's inquest with the mandatory inquest into the police shooting death of his violent father, who was holding a knife to Julie's throat at the time.

Repeatedly, I filed Freedom of Information requests to learn what could possibly be preventing Jared from gaining the inquest that was promised him by the Legislature in its unanimous passage of Bill 89.

In May of last year, I introduced Bill 83 that was back-dated to ensure there would be an inquest and justice for Jared and any child in Ontario who dies at the hand of a parent where child welfare authorities have been involved.

I met with the Coroner and raised my concerns directly with him.

Time and time again, I was assured by Minister Bartolucci and Premier McGuinty that all the Craven Family's questions would be answered.

Now we learn that a key report commissioned by the Coroner dealing with the aspect of domestic violence which is central to Jared's story is not coming forward at the inquest.

Dr. Peter Jaffe lays out his analysis of the facts around Jared's case and offers excellent recommendations on how to prevent similar tragedies.

Dr. Jaffe makes a clear link between domestic violence and child endangerment.

Knowing that this report is NOT forming part of the evidence before the inquiry, the only way to fulfill the promise contained in Bill 89 is to hold a public inquiry.

Given the recent attention given to the rate of child deaths in Ontario by our independent Child Advocate, is it not clear to everyone that government action is required?

As criminal an act as Jared's death is, his story has never been told in a court of law. Julie has never had the opportunity to testify in court. Not even when a judge granted her estranged husband visits with Jared despite the record of heinous violence against Julie that caused her to seek protection through a No Contact order.

There should be an inquiry that focuses on Jared, that focuses on Dr. Jaffe's findings, that focuses on the most important aspect of this whole tragedy, which is domestic violence being a precursor to children being harmed.

Of the little information I was given from my FOI requests, we learned that the Coroner decided on the joint inquest model just as Bill 89 was about to receive third reading and become law. I want to know why that was.

I want to know why neither the Coroner's Pediatric Death Review Committee nor the Coroner's Domestic Violence Death Review Committee looked at Jared's case.

I want to know why domestic violence isn't central to the inquest into Jared's death. And I especially would like to know why, instead of using Section 22 for the special purpose it was intended and as supported in the Goudge Commission Report, the McGuinty government has introduced a law to remove Section 22, and give up the government's power to call an inquest when circumstances merit, as they do in Jared's case.

This is about Jared.

This about a child not dying in vain. The inquest begins on Monday in Hamilton.

It is going to be an extremely difficult and painful time for Julie and her parents, which they will have to endure with the knowledge that evidence which could have been brought to light, won't be.