Ottawa, September 23, 2020 – Today’s Speech from the Throne, A Stronger and More Resilient Canada, includes measures that will benefit children ranging from: childcare, health care, people with disabilities, food security, mental health and PharmaCare.
Children First Canada welcomes these signals, many of which respond directly to the concerns raised in our Raising Canada report, which highlighted immediate and long-term threats to the health and well-being of children in Canada. Children’s most basic rights to life, survival and development are in jeopardy.
“I am pleased to see attention drawn to issues that affect children and their families, and I look forward to the details as they emerge,” says Sara Austin, Founder and CEO of Children First Canada. “At the same time, much more needs to be done to mitigate the impact of the crisis on children and deal with the systemic issues that put them at risk even prior to this crisis.”
Children First Canada continues to call for urgent, bold action for children in Canada as we look to the fall economic update. We urge the federal government to:
1. Appoint a federal Commissioner for Children and Youth
2. Create a national strategy to tackle the top 10 threats to children in Canada and ensure the full protection of children’s rights
3. Publish a children’s budget that includes dedicated resources to address the top 10 threats to children in Canada, as well as $250 million to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on children.
“We agree with the government that we are at a crossroads. What the government does now, or fails to do, will change the trajectory of the lives of a generation of children,” says Austin. “Canadians care deeply about the well-being of our children, and we cannot build back stronger unless we take bold steps to invest in children today.”
The kids are not alright, and it’s time for Canada to measure up!
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About Children First Canada
Children First Canada has a bold and ambitious vision that together we can make Canada the best place in the world for kids to grow up.© We are working to improve children’s well-being by building greater awareness among Canadians about the urgent needs of kids in our country, and mobilizing government, lawmakers and influencers to change the status quo.
For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Andrea Chrysanthou
Director, Communications
Global Public Affairs
416-797-8194
About Children First Canada
Children First Canada a national non-profit organization with a bold and ambitious vision that together we can make Canada the best place in the world for kids to grow up. We are a strong, effective and independent voice for all of Canada’s children. CFC is harnessing the strength of many organizations that are committed to improving the lives of Canada’s children, including children’s charities and hospitals, research centres, government, corporations, community leaders, and children themselves. www.childrenfirstcanada.com