A CANADA FIT FOR CHILDREN

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"A CANADA FIT FOR CHILDREN"

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, May 10, 2004 ,- The Government of Canada today announced the release of A Canada Fit for Children, its official response to the commitments made on May 10, 2002, at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Children. A Canada Fit for Children re-affirms the importance that all sectors of Canadian society-governments, organizations and individuals-place on children. In particular, A Canada Fit for Children re-affirms the Government's commitment to making children and families a national priority and to continue to work with governments, stakeholders and the public. The Government's investment in major initiatives for children and families currently exceeds $13 billion per year.

Senator Landon Pearson, who was instrumental in developing the document, submitted it to the United Nations in New York City on April 22, 2004, on behalf of the Government of Canada. "A Canada Fit for Children is the result of input from thousands of Canadians, including young people, who have a common interest in the rights and well-being of children," said Senator Pearson.

"Canada's national plan of action is among the first from industrialized countries and it demonstrates the value of involving children and young people, as well as civil society, in national strategies," said Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of UNICEF, which is the lead agency for children and secretariat for the follow-up to the United Nations Special Session on Children. "Canada continues to be an effective and long-time voice for children and their rights in the international arena."

"A Canada Fit for Children re-affirms our vision, goals and on-going efforts to build a Canada where all children have an opportunity to reach their full potential," said the Honourable Liza Frulla, Minister of Social Development. "As we saw in the 2004 Budget, the Government of Canada is increasing its investments in supports for children and families to address child poverty and increase access to the quality early learning and child care programs that we know can make a real difference. This complements the annual funding we provide to help provinces and territories to improve and expand early childhood development programs and services."

"Canadians want to ensure that their children are able to grow up healthy, with dignity and in peace," said the Honourable Pierre Pettigrew, Minister of Health. "Promoting the health and well-being of Canada's children is a key priority for the Government of Canada. The recent federal Budget provided $300 million for a national immunization strategy that would support the provinces and territories in providing recommended vaccines to children."

The Government of Canada, in partnership with provinces, territories and stakeholders, has made many significant investments over the past decade to ensure that the needs of children and families are supported. Federal/provincial/territorial initiatives include the National Child Benefit, the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Agreement and the Multilateral Framework on Early Learning and Child Care.

A Canada Fit for Children is consistent with Canada's National Children's Agenda, which continues to be the framework under which governments, non-governmental organizations and stakeholders work together on behalf of children.

"At the United Nations Special Session on Children in 2002, countries committed to a series of goals to change the situation of children," added the Honourable Bill Graham, Minister of Foreign Affairs. "With this plan, Canada builds on the agenda of the Special Session, ensuring that the interests of children everywhere remain a priority." A Canada Fit for Children re-affirms Canada's commitment to the broader goals of A World Fit for Children, the global declaration and plan of action adopted unanimously by the nations of the world at the UN Special Session on Children in May 2002.

The Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Minister of State (Children and Youth) also expressed her support. "It is up to each of us to make sure that our children can acquire the knowledge and skills they need to be tomorrow's leaders. A Canada Fit for Children calls upon all Canadians to consider how they could contribute to improving the lives of children."

As a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Canada is committed to ensuring that the best interests of its children are considered in all its programs and policies. A Canada Fit for Children confirms our commitment to the Convention.

Senator Pearson is holding an event on Parliament Hill on May 10, 2004, to commemorate the second anniversary of the United Nations Special Session on Children and to raise awareness of Canada's response: A Canada Fit for Children.

A Canada Fit for Children is available at www.sdc.gc.ca, www.hc-sc.gc.ca and http://sen.parl.gc.ca/lpearson. For more information on the National Children's Agenda, visit www.socialunion.ca and for more information on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, visit www.pch.gc.ca/progs/pdp-hrp/docs/crc_e.cfm.

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For more information, please contact:

Donald Boulanger
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Frulla
Minister of Social Development
(613) 995-6405
Media Relations
(613) 957-9419

Sébastien Théberge/Adèle Blanchard
Office of Minister Pettigrew
Minister of Health
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Minister Responsible for Official Languages
(613) 957-0200

Senator Landon Pearson
Advisor on Children's Rights to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 947-7134

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INFORMATION MAY 2004

A CANADA FIT FOR CHILDREN

A Canada Fit for Children represents the Government of Canada's response to commitments made at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Children in May, 2002. The Special Session on Children ended with the nations of the world unanimously adopting A World Fit for Children, a global declaration and plan of action to improve the situation of children around the world, and agreeing to prepare national plans of action based on their own national circumstances.

Jointly developed by Health Canada and Social Development Canada, and under the leadership of Senator Landon Pearson, A Canada Fit for Children reflects the central issues affecting children today and suggests opportunities for action that all Canadians can take to improve the lives of children in Canada and in the world.

A Canada Fit for Children outlines goals, strategies and opportunities under four central themes: supporting families and strengthening communities; promoting healthy lives; protecting from harm; and promoting education and learning. A Canada Fit for Children also identifies a number of priority areas for children, which are consistent with the Government of Canada's agenda on children and families.

Government of Canada's commitment to children

The National Children's Agenda, developed by federal, provincial and territorial governments in 1999 sets out a shared vision for ensuring that children in Canada have the best possible start in life and the necessary opportunities to realize their full potential. The National Child Benefit, the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Agreement and the Multilateral Framework on Early Learning and Child Care are examples of initiatives that fall under the National Children's Agenda.

Under this agenda, the Government of Canada has already taken concrete steps to enhance the supports and services provided to children and their families. All together, the Government's investments on major initiatives for children and families exceed $13 billion each year. These include:

• support to Canadian families with children delivered through the Canada Child Tax Benefit and National Child Benefit Supplement, which will total more than$10 billion per year by 2007-2008;
• transfers of $500 million annually to provincial and territorial governments to improve and expand early childhood development programs and services;
• transfers of $1.05 billion over five years to provinces and territories to improve access to quality child care more quickly;
• an annual commitment of $52.9million to at-risk children, aged birth to 6 years, and their parents, through the Community Action Program for Children.

Creating a Canada and a World Fit for Children

A wide range of Canadians including children and youth, governments, non-governmental, professional and faith-based organizations, Aboriginal groups, individuals and the private sector were consulted during the development of A Canada Fit for Children.

A Canada Fit for Children builds upon Canada's collective efforts for and with children and is based on the following principles:

• Recognition that parents (and legal guardians where designated) have the primary responsibility for the care and nurture of children
• Recognition of governments' roles and responsibilities
• Respect for the diversity of children's communities, culture and background
• Ensuring social inclusion
• Participation of children
• Fostering multi-sectoral collaboration
• Sharing research, information and best practices
• Recognizing and acting on responsibilities for all the world's children

The plan of action is organized under four key theme areas as follows.

Supporting Families and Strengthening Communities

Canadians recognize that strong families and communities are crucial to the well-being of children. All of society benefits when parents are supported in their ability to give their children the best possible start in life. Priorities identified under this theme include: child- and family-friendly policies; early learning and child care; poverty; separation and divorce; social inclusion and diversity - building community; Aboriginal children; and inclusion and support of children with disabilities.

Promoting Healthy Lives

Canadians are committed to promoting and maintaining the physical and mental health of children in Canada. Healthy living includes not only physical activity and good nutrition, but also participation in society and in activities, such as arts and culture. Priorities include: healthy active living; promoting effective parenting in the early years; mental health; immunization; the physical environment and the prevention of injuries; sexual and reproductive health; tobacco, alcohol, drug abuse and addictions; the health of Aboriginal children; paediatric health care and research; and health services in official language minority communities.

Protecting from Harm

Canadians are committed to protecting children from harm in Canada and abroad, and will continue to support approaches that promote effective prevention and intervention, recognizing the underlying factors that can contribute to situations of abuse, violence, exploitation or neglect Priorities include: child maltreatment; out-of-home care and adoption; violence, bullying and other forms of intimidation; youth justice; violent and harmful content in the media; immigrant, refugee and asylum-seeking children; and sexual exploitation and trafficking.

Promoting Education and Learning

Canadians place a high value on the importance of education and learning for all children in order to support their full participation in society. While formal schooling is crucial and can be received in a variety of settings, education and learning also refers to the broad range of life experiences and learning processes that enable children, individually and collectively, to develop their personalities, talents and abilities, so as to live a full and satisfying life within society. Priorities include: quality learning; arts and culture; human rights education and global citizenship; Canadian culture and national identity; environmental learning and sustainability; literacy; and trained and professional educators.

International Priorities

Canadians recognize that children internationally, particularly in developing countries and countries in transition, are also a priority. Challenges such as poverty, hunger, disease, natural disasters, armed conflict and terrorism remain the biggest obstacles to realizing the rights of children worldwide. Priorities are directed towards the realization of the Millennium Development Goals and include: poverty and sustainable development; food security, nutrition, water and sanitation; preventing and controlling communicable diseases; HIV/AIDS; sexual and reproductive health; combating child labour; protecting marginalized groups; protection from armed conflict; and Education for All.

Partnerships and Participation

A Canada Fit for Children calls upon the following partners to participate in the implementation: (1) children, including adolescents; (2) parents and families; (3) governments at all levels; (4) parliamentarians, members of provincial legislatures, members of Aboriginal governments and municipal councillors; (5) civil society; (6) the private sector; (7) religious, spiritual and cultural leaders, and Aboriginal Elders; (8) academics and researchers; (9) teachers, early childhood educators, child and youth care workers, foster parents, social workers, coaches, police and correctional workers and others who work directly with children; (10) health care providers; (11) the media and their organizations; and (12) artists, writers and musicians.

Over 30 Government of Canada departments provide programs or services for children and families. For information on these services, call: 1-800 O Canada to get a copy of Services for Children: Government of Canada Guide for Children and their Families or visit: canada.gc.ca/cdns/children_e.html.

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