BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S AGENDA ANNOUNCED IN THE SPEECH FROM THE THRONE SEPTEMBER 23, 1997 NATIONAL CHILDREN'S AGENDA    The commitment  "... The federal, provincial and territorial governments agreed in January 1997 to work together to develop the National Children's Agenda, a comprehensive strategy to improve the well-being of Canada's children.  Federal, provincial and territorial governments will work together to develop this broader agenda for children, including clear outcome measures by which to gauge success...."  Speech from the Throne, September 23, 1997    What is the National Children's Agenda?  The National Children's Agenda (NCA) is a unique opportunity to work together to ensure that all Canada's children have the best possible opportunity to develop to their full potential as healthy, successful and contributing members of society. The full developmental needs of children cut across many sectors (i.e., health, social services, justice and education) and require the involvement of many levels of participation from Canadians and their governments. The National Children's Agenda will act as a far-reaching, long-term action plan for coordinating and advancing actions in a wide range of children's issues. It will be: "... an effective, modern, truly national approach to benefits and services for children and families. (Prime Minister's Speech to the Ottawa-Carleton Board of Trade, February, 1997) "The National Children's Agenda will provide a publicly visible framework, developed in partnership with the provinces and territories. It could offer:   goals (what we want to do) strategy to achieve these goals (what we will do) processes for coordinating government and non-government efforts (how we will work together), and clear outcome measures for gauging success (how we are faring).   An agenda for Canada's children will build on efforts already underway by many partners - federal, provincial and territorial governments, community groups, professionals, business, volunteers and families - such as the Community Action Program for Children (CAPC) and the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) to improve the lives and well-being of children. The NCA would act as a "springboard" for future initiatives and a "magnet" for drawing partners together to enhance our mutual actions.    The NCA is a long-term action plan - it cannot happen overnight. Together, federal, provincial and territorial governments will take the first steps to begin developing a children's agenda, with participation from many Canadians. The NCA will include collective policy priorities as well as potential joint federal-provincial-territorial initiatives to underpin these policy directions (e.g., continuing to strengthen income security, efforts to optimize early child development).   As announced in the Speech from the Throne, there are some initiatives that are a priority as part of this Agenda. These include:    National Child Benefit system Learning Readiness Indicators Expanding Aboriginal Head Start (to on-reserve First Nations children) Centres of Excellence for Children's Well-Being   Why a National Children's Agenda?     There is strong evidence, including scientific research, that what happens to children when they are very young shapes their health and well-being throughout their lifetime. Science has proven what we have intrinsically known all along - healthy children grow into healthy, successful adults, who will shape our future.  There are some children who are particularly vulnerable in today's changing world. Children in low-income families experiencing abuse and/or neglect, physical or mental health problems or family difficulties need particular attention to ensure they get a good start in life. Such difficulties can affect children in all family situations, in communities across Canada. Many people and levels of government already work every day to give Canada's children the best possible opportunity to develop their full potential as healthy, successful and contributing members of society. Many efforts work to assist all children; some are targeted to at-risk kids. However, there is widespread recognition that no one individual or organization can meet all the developmental needs of children. There is strength in working together, ensuring efforts are complementary and that there are not major gaps or areas of duplication. The proposal to develop the National Children's Agenda (NCA) has grown out of discussions by federal, provincial and territorial health and social service areas. In January 1997, the federal-provincial-territorial Council on Social Policy Renewal requested that health and social service ministries begin to explore possibilities for coordination towards the National Children's Agenda. Preliminary work has begun to develop more fully the concept of a NCA; officials from the Justice and Education sectors are also participating. At the Annual Premiers' Conference in August, Premiers expressed "strong support" for developing a NCA and agreed that it is a priority within overall work towards social policy renewal.  At their meeting in December, 1997, the First Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to new cooperative approaches to ensure child well-being, and agreed to fast track the work on the agenda through the Ministerial Council on Social Policy Renewal. Fulfilling the commitment - building the National Children's Agenda     Together, federal, provincial and territorial governments will continue to work towards more fully developing the National Children's Agenda. It is hoped that this work, together with other initiatives for children already underway, will become the foundation for involving Canadians in this important national agenda.     In addition, the Government of Canada will continue to move ahead on the initiatives announced in the Speech from the Throne as part of this national agenda.   [ Top ] [ Menu | Previous | Français ] © 1998 Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada