National Child Day – Message from the Minister of Health and the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health

Today is National Child Day, a day to acknowledge the rights of children and youth across Canada. Every child deserves the right to their needs being met, including access to food and shelter, as well a nurturing, supportive environment.

November 20, 2022 | Ottawa, ON | Public Health Agency of Canada

Today is National Child Day, a day to acknowledge the rights of children and youth across Canada. Every child deserves the right to their needs being met, including access to food and shelter, as well a nurturing, supportive environment.

By signing onto the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991, Canada made a commitment to ensure that all children are treated with dignity and respect and have every opportunity to reach their full potential. As noted by the Prime Minister, children have a right to be heard and it is important that all of us, including governments at all levels, provide children with opportunities to participate in decisions that impact them.

Children and youth, especially members of Indigenous, Black, racialized, newcomer, disability, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ communities have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. The disruption to their daily lives, routines, and relationships left many young people feeling afraid, angry, and anxious for their future. Recognizing this, we have been working with great youth-centered organizations like Jack.org and Kids Help Phone to support their mental health and well-being. If you need help, you can find resources on their websites at jack.org and kidshelpphone.ca, as well as on the Wellness Together Canada Portal.

Protecting the wellbeing of children includes improving their access to oral health care. With tooth decay being the most common, yet preventable childhood chronic disease, our Government is taking action to support good dental care as early as possible. As of December 1 2022, the interim Canada Dental Benefit will be open for eligible children under 12 to get the dental care they need while we develop a long-term Canada-wide dental care program for those who need it most.

With the rise in respiratory illnesses early than anticipated, we are also committed to ensure that parents and caregivers have the medicines they need to take care of their sick children. That is why since the start of the children's analgesics shortage, we have been working hand-in-hand with suppliers and all partners to implement shortage mitigation measures. In fact, as of next week, in addition to increased domestic production, more than 1 million bottles of foreign product will be in Canada to supply hospitals, community pharmacies and retailers.

Moreover, through programs like the Community Action Program for Children, the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program and Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities, we are working to provide trusted, inclusive, culturally appropriate and locally-tailored supports to children and youth and their families who face barriers to health equity.

As we continue our work to improve policies and programs that promote and protect the rights and wellbeing of children and youth, the Public Health Agency of Canada is also collaborating with Children First Canada to launch a contest this month on child rights. Stay tuned for the final video which will be posted next year on the Government of Canada National Child Day website.

This National Child Day, monuments and buildings across the country will be lit blue as part of the UNICEF Go Blue campaign. If you are able to, we invite you to participate by wearing blue in support of child rights, and to engage in conversations with the children and youth in your lives about their rights.

Resources for children, young adults, parents, caregivers, and educators are available on our National Child Day website.

The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, P.C., M.P.
The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, P.C., M.P.

Contacts

Guillaume Bertrand
Senior Communications Advisor and Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos
Minister of Health
613-957-0200

Maja Staka
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Carolyn Bennett
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health
343-552-5568

Media Relations
Health Canada
613-957-2983
media@hc-sc.gc.ca