But they told CBC News they are devastated that the ministry charged with protecting children is removing the girl from a loving home willing to adopt her.

“It’s horrible. It’s really really horrible … because we fear for her so much,” said the tearful foster mother.

The child has a strong bond to her foster family, they say.

“She feels like our daughter. We’ve raised her since she was born,” the foster mother told CBC.

The father explained, “If she gets taken away she’s going to wonder where is mom and dad.”

They say they can not understand why social workers seem to be ignoring the advice of medical experts and as well want to place the child with a non-Métis family after letting her live with them for two years.

They argue that a court should determine the toddler’s future after considering her best interests and weighing expert advice about her emotional needs against the fact she has two siblings living in Ontario.

The foster mother said if the girl stays in their family, they are well-placed to preserve her relationship with her B.C.-based biological parents, who have expressed their support for this in a letter.

“The foster parents here have fallen in love with our daughter, and we’ve fallen in love with them,” the parents told CBC.

The foster mother also planned to take the toddler to meet and connect with her siblings in Ontario, as the family often travels there.

MCFD makes final call

The ministry responsible for child protection urged the parents not to speak to the media, as they are not allowed to talk about children in their care.

MCFD Minister Stephanie Cadieux was unavailable for comment.

Removing of this young infant from a Métis family is absolutely absurd. – Keith Henry, president of the B.C. Métis Federation

A statement released yesterday outlined its stance in this case, which was considered by an “exception committee” which is comprised of social workers, and a Métis delegate, according to the province.