Reduce Child poverty and income inequality

UNICEF Canada believes that “the federal government can reduce the rate of child poverty by at least 60 per cent by enhancing the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) for the lowest-income families. As a result, close to 800,000 fewer children would grow up in poverty.”

The ministerial letters for the new parliament mandated the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development to increase the Canada Child Benefit by 15 per cent for children under the age of one.  UNICEF Canada welcomes this as an important investment in child well-being at a critical period in their lives, whilst noting that “the CCB is a powerful equalizer but has less impact than comparable programs in many other high-income countries. The CCB reduces child poverty by about 20 per cent, but countries with the highest levels of child and youth well-being reduce child poverty by more than 60 per cent with similar family income benefits.”

Improve parental leave and child care

UNICEF Canada argue that Canada should increase the rate of incomes of standard parental leave from 55 per cent of average weekly earnings to at least 70 per cent and decrease the qualifying income to a minimum of $2,000 in insurable income during the qualifying period regardless of the number of hours worked.

They note that a survey by FUSE Insights on behalf of UNICEF Canada found that 77 per cent of respondents agreed it is important for the government to ensure new parents can afford to take enough time to look after their children.  They comment that, currently, the Canadian benefit system disproportionately excludes Indigenous mothers and those with precarious or non-standard employment.

Attention is drawn to the particulars of the ministerial mandate letter.  “The Minister of Families, Children and Social Development is tasked with developing a Guaranteed Paid Family Leave program, a key advocacy priority in UNICEF Canada's #VoteForEveryChild campaign.”

The Minister is also “responsible in creating a national secretariat to ‘lay the groundwork’ for a pan-Canadian childcare system.” The recommendations comment that UNICEF Canada had hoped to see more investment from the government as children and families need accessible, high-quality childcare immediately, but note that a commitment to a national framework is an important step forward.

Other positive developments in this area in the mandate letter that UNICEF Canada welcomes include “support for early childhood educators such as lowering costs for early childhood educator degree programs and related training. In addition, a commitment to creating up to 250,000 new before-and after-school care spaces for kids under 10.”

Ensure fairness for Indigenous Children

UNICEF Canada  advocate strongly for the adoption of the Spirit Bear Plan by the federal government to permanently end funding shortfalls in the services provided to Indigenous children.

The current government has made no commitment to the plan in the mandate letter. UNICEF Canada calls on the government to act on the directive that has been included, to “move quickly on fair and equitable compensation to First Nations persons who were harmed by the discriminatory underfunding of child and family services on reserve,” and for the federal government to consult meaningfully with Indigenous organizations to that end.

As a reference point, the paper notes, “First Nations children and families living on reserve and in the Territories receive public services funded by the federal government. Since Confederation, these services have fallen significantly short of what other Canadians receive. In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its Calls to Action, including a call to achieve parity for First Nations, Inuit and Métis children. Equitable spending on public services for children including clean water, health care, education and protection is their right.”

Put children first in decision-making

The discussion paper argues for lowering the voting age so as to increase the influence of young people in political decisions and recommends that the federal government expand their existing Gender-Based Analysis+ to include a Child Rights Impacts Assessment (CRIA) on all bills and budgets.

Noting that major parties agree about the need to establish a Children’s Commissioner, and that “members from the Liberal Party, Conservative Party and the NDP have all introduced legislation on this issue in previous parliamentary sessions”, the paper argues that “a federal commissioner for children and youth would help ensure Canada’s 8 million kids have a louder voice in Ottawa”.

The paper notes, however, that there are no commitments made on the items raised above in the government’s mandate letters to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and the Minister of Youth.

Be a leader for children internationally

UNICEF Canada expresses concern that, at a time when “evidence is emerging that suggests gains made for children in the last three decades could be lost as many governments, donors and even the public grow increasingly complacent” and “more and more children caught in conflict zones are being targeted directly with near impunity”, the Minister of International Development's mandate letter only mentions children once.  The discussion paper argues strongly that the Canadian government “prioritize the protection and well-being of children and the defense of their rights as an international assistance priority” and honour “commitments to increase global health and nutrition, with a focus on newborn and child, health and nutrition”.

Finally, UNICEF Canada notes that the “Minister of International Development's mandate letter calls on the Minister to lead a global campaign ensuring that all refugee and displaced children get the education they need and deserve. This is a huge win for children and a priority that UNICEF Canada strongly supports.”

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/top-5-policies-to-defend-childhood-in-2020-898213988.html