On behalf of ministers on the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Council on Social Policy Renewal, the report was issued by the Council Co-chairs Tim Sale, Manitoba’s Minister of Family Services and Housing, and Jane Stewart, federal minister responsible for Human Resources Development Canada.
  
A year ago, Canadians were asked to reflect on what vision we, as a nation, should have for our children, to reflect our beliefs and commitment to their well being.  The message from the consultations was clear: children must become the focus of our efforts – as parents, as communities, as governments, as a country.  Minister Sale said: “It was wonderful to see that Canadians agree children are our most precious resource and that it is everyone’s responsibility – parents, communities, organizations, businesses and governments – to ensure that children grow up in a healthy, caring, safe and secure environment.”

The Public Report: Public Dialogue on the National Children’s Agenda – Developing a Shared Vision, provides an overview of the comments by Canadians, as well as revised vision, values and goals that reflect the views received.

The public dialogue on the National Children’s Agenda included roundtable discussion, focus groups and individual feedback.  The five national Aboriginal organizations significantly contributed to the dialogue process, as did many non-government organizations and children and youth service agencies.

At the heart of the National Children’s Agenda is a vision with values and goals that aim to ensure all Canadian children have the best possible opportunity to realize their potential.  In order to achieve this vision, governments across the country have introduced a broad range of benefits and services including the National Child Benefit.  Governments also will continue to explore opportunities to develop and provide benefits, programs and services to address early childhood development.  Governments are also starting to review ways of fostering strong adolescent development.  Governments are continuing their ongoing efforts to monitor the progress of Canada’s children and to share effective approaches to improved child well-being. 

The Provincial and Territorial Ministers on the Council on Social Policy Renewal reinforced that Premiers and Territorial Leaders have identified children’s issues as a top priority for action and have noted that this is primarily an area of provincial/territorial responsibility.  Premiers and Territorial Leaders have also unanimously advocated the need for the full and immediate restoration of $4.2 B to the Canada Health and Social Transfer to return it to 1994-1995 levels, plus adoption of an appropriate escalator.  The restoration and adoption of an escalator are viewed as essential to strengthening the front-line social programs delivered by provinces and territories.  The restoration and escalator would support, among other priorities, efforts to address the pressing needs of Canada’s children.

The Canada Health and Social Transfer is a federal funding mechanism, which partially supports the provision of health, post-secondary education and social services in the provinces and territories. 

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The Public Report: Public Dialogue on the National Children’s Agenda – Developing a Shared Vision, is available on the Internet at http://socialunion.gc.ca/menu_e.html 
 

* Quebec did not sign the Social Union Framework Agreement and is not an active member of the Ministerial Council on Social Policy Renewal.  However, the Quebec Government supports the provincial-territorial position on the full restoration of CHST transfer payments as a top priority.  Quebec considers that this top priority should be met rather than launching any new Canada-wide social programs.