Children First Canada Essay

Canadians are living under a misconception: that the kids are alright. That’s according to a new landmark report from Children First Canada, a new national non-profit organization that launched today in Toronto.

The report, based on a survey* conducted by the Angus Reid Institute, highlights a huge gap between the public’s perceptions about how Canada measures up for children’s wellbeing, and the harsh realities that children face. More than two-thirds of Canadians think Canada ranks as either a top-10 country in the world for children’s wellbeing. The reality is that Canada is ranked 17th out of 29 affluent nations for children’s wellbeing based on a global index by UNICEF. And we place near the bottom when it comes to measuring child poverty and children’s health and safety.

The survey also found that half (49%) of adults and 39% of children say they believe Canadians do not give enough attention to children and their issues. Furthermore, 65% of parents with children under 18 and 63% of children (63%) say that youth could use more support.

Children First Canada will be working with other organizations including both charities and for-profits that have an interest in children’s rights in an effort to better affect policy change. “We’re harnessing the strength of the many individuals and organizations who share a common commitment to improve the lives of children.” She adds that investing in children makes economic sense. “Every dollar invested in the early years of a child’s life can save up to $9 in future spending in health care so it’s in government’s best interest to take steps now to ensure better children’s wellbeing.”

Other key findings from the ARI / Children First Canada report:

• The top three concerns for young people are bullying (40%), cost of post-secondary education (37%), and mental health, depression and/or anxiety