Public Dialogue on the National Children's Agenda- Developing a Shared Vision
a shared vision for Canada's children
next steps-how can we respond?
General Comments on the Dialogue Documents
Participants in the public dialogue expressed strong support for the National Children's Agenda. Most believed that Canadians share the NCA vision for children and hold many of its values and goals in common.
Participants saw roles for parents, themselves, and for business, communities and all Canadians in putting the National Children’s Agenda into action. They also emphasized that an agenda for children needs concrete and long-term commitments on the part of governments.
Participants also said that all children must have access to opportunities and resources, including children with different abilities and children living in different economic, cultural, linguistic and regional circumstances.
Participants stressed that the voices and perspectives of children and youth must play an important role in the progress of the National Children's Agenda, both now and in the future. Some participants suggested that public participation in the National Children’s Agenda could have been invited earlier in its development.
Finally, the five aboriginal organizations that held discussions within their constituencies have completed written reports on those discussions.
These reports are available from the organizations:
- Assembly of First Nations – (613) 241-6789
- Congress of Aboriginal Peoples - (613) 747-6022
- Inuit Tapirisat of Canada – (613) 238-8181
- Métis National Council – (613) 232-3216
- Native Women's Association of Canada – (613) 722-3033
"I want this whole world to realize that people should care for one another. All kids should be loved and looked after and not rejected or abandoned. We need to feel safe and always be happy and not have to worry about if we are going to make it home from school."
... a youth
There was broad support for the vision statements set out in the National Children’s Agenda. Some participants discussed additions to the statements, yet many wanted them to be simple.
In summary, participants suggested:
- The vision, values and goals must be inspirational. They must be statements that every Canadian can remember.
- Emphasis must be placed on respecting and valuing children for who they are now, in addition to who they will become in the future.
- The vision statements should be clear when discussing the best interests of children; the highest priority must be given to the perspectives and interests of children themselves. The statements must embrace children’s national, international and aboriginal rights.
- The vision must embrace all children, including those with disabilities and special needs, newcomers to Canada, children in official language minority communities and children living in urban, rural and remote communities.
- References to families should include extended families, caregivers, non-traditional families and single parents.
- Special emphasis on aboriginal children in the vision statements is important and appropriate.
“What we can do to meet our goals:
- Support the role of parents and strengthen families, because they play the primary role in children’s lives.
- Enhance early childhood development because the first few years are important for children’s lifelong abilities, health and well-being.
- Improve economic security for families to help maximize child well-being.
- Provide early and continuous learning experiences, so that children become lifelong learners.
- Foster strong adolescent development by giving youth opportunities, skills and a sense of belonging.
- Create supportive, safe and violence-free communities where children can thrive.” ,
... from original discussion document
Comments on How Canadians Can Best Respond
Participants’ comments on the six areas for action outlined by the National Children’s Agenda (from original discussion document as noted above) can be summarized by the following:
- Participants strongly agreed that a special effort must be directed to early childhood health and development. Participants discussed the importance of universal access to early childhood programs, and provided examples of services that should be accessible to everyone, including pre- and post-natal care, nutritional care, childcare, and preschool and literacy programs.
- Participants discussed the advantages of broad educational and learning opportunities that start early in childhood and continue at a post-secondary level. They emphasized that learning must go beyond formal environments, and they stressed the importance of creative, cultural and spiritual elements, as well as opportunities for recreation and play. Many participants said that activities must value learning for the joy of learning, in addition to the benefits that learning can bring later in life.
- The importance of support for families of all types, including single and stay-at-home parents, was emphasized.
- Participants agreed that some children need special support. Many reiterated the importance of steps to improve the circumstances of children living in poverty, aboriginal children (including those living off reserve), children with disabilities and other special needs, and recently arrived immigrant children.
- Participants emphasized the seriousness of child poverty, and said that steps must be taken to provide children with basic needs, including food, clothing and shelter. Many said that child poverty in Canada must be addressed before other goals can be achieved.
- Participants wanted to ensure that older children are not overlooked. They suggested that the National Children’s Agenda must promote activities for children of all ages. Opportunities for older children and adolescents are vital, and should include encouragement through mentoring and community involvement. Affordable access to recreational and creative activities was also emphasized.
- Some participants said that support for families is vital, but must not contribute to unnecessary government presence in family life.
- Participants recognized and affirmed that many roles are necessary to bring the National Children’s Agenda to life. There was a consensus that in addition to the primary role of parents, supported by families and communities, governments also place a high priority on the well-being of children.
- Participants wanted citizens and their communities to assume greater personal responsibility for better parenting and to pay more careful attention to children’s well-being. Many said that workplaces, businesses and corporations must also be asked to contribute through the promotion of family-friendly employment policies, community giving and other leadership roles.
“We must start from the centre and work our way out. We must first look to basics in order to come to terms with childcare and see how it fits into the Circle of things.”
... an adult participant
Comments on Measuring and Monitoring Our Activities
Participants agreed that it is important to measure and monitor the progress of children in order to improve policies and programs that affect children’s well-being. Some participants believed that public, government and business interest in economic information should be complemented by information on social conditions, including the circumstances of Canada’s children
"How can adults show that children and youth are their highest priority? Tell us that we are their highest priority!"
... a youth participant
Participants’ comments on measuring and monitoring can be summarized by the following:
- To be effective, information about children should be made available to national, provincial, regional and community policy makers and leaders. Information should also be provided to the public. Participants discussed the value of using a common set of broad societal indicators to track the well-being of Canada’s children.
- To be meaningful, information on indicators—measurements used to track how well children are doing—should be reported regularly and compared over time. Participants said that these indicators should track changes in children’s lives, as well as the environments that influence them. Participants discussed the importance of gathering information about children who face special challenges, including aboriginal children and children with disabilities.
- Participants said that new ways to share research, experience and information about children should be found. Participants discussed examples of programs and ideas that have made a positive difference for children. It was suggested that governments gather and share this information. By sharing knowledge, even in instances where information is changing or incomplete, people providing programs and services for children can review and adapt effective practices.
- Participants suggested that federal, provincial, territorial and local governments work together with non-governmental organizations and interested Canadians to measure and track children’s progress.
The five national Aboriginal organizations conducted their own dialogue processes and provided reports to Ministers. The following quotes are excerpts from the Aboriginal reports:
Inuit Tapirisat of Canada
“Children shouldn’t have to leave home to receive support which is the case in the North for children who are disabled, who have to travel great distances to receive care.”
Assembly of First Nations
“The scope of First Nation’s childcare must be broad enough to meet the diverse and changing needs of societies in transition. Childcare services must be flexible to meet parent’s needs for childcare support while parents attend training or participate in employment through modern or traditional means. Most importantly, childcare must support parents, individuals and communities in order to assist them in moving towards self-sufficiency.”
Native Women’s Association of Canada
“It was suggested that a component be added (to the Vision) that stipulates that children will be respected for their cultural, religious and racial backgrounds and a firm foundation will be built for children to learn respect and care for each other regardless of diversity.”
Métis National Council
“The Métis National Council would like to see “an annual report card on the status of Métis children in the care of the state, i.e. correctional institutions, provincial family and child services, foster homes, private family care agencies, drug and alcohol rehabilitation and other social agencies.”
Congress of Aboriginal Peoples
“As participants in the development of this (children’s) agenda, Aboriginal people can open the eyes of all Canadians, since traditional Aboriginal child care approaches are increasingly seen as being in harmony with emerging child development research. We believe that children represent the primary means through which our cultures can preserve traditions, heritage and languages. In this sense our children are considered to be the hope of the future.”