Children in a Grade 2 class in Ontario are among the 20,000 young people who came together virtually this week to discuss issues ranging from the cost of living to protection from violence and abuse. Sara Austin of Children First Canada is seen on screen.
Children in a Grade 2 class in Ontario are among the 20,000 young people who came together virtually this week to discuss issues ranging from the cost of living to protection from violence and abuse. Sara Austin of Children First Canada is seen on screen.
As of July 1, 2022, Canada’s population was nearly 39 million. Eight million are our children, who represent the future and embody our hopes for a healthier planet. However, as much as the time ahead rests on their shoulders, we are failing to give them the attention they need now.
There is a shocking pediatric crisis in this country, and yet there was no indication that the triple threat of COVID, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and flu was even addressed at a Nov. 7 meeting in Vancouver between the premiers and the federal health minister. Instead, an argument broke out about the clumsy timing of a press release written before the conclusion of the discussions.
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Federal/provincial wrangling is a given — but surely there are times when it must be put aside.
How did no one highlight what is unfolding before our eyes, given the mental and physical health risks to children, parents, health-care workers and hospital administrators? How did no one understand the consequences of the cancellation of planned surgeries because of the overcapacity in emergency rooms and ICUs? Did officials not read the gripping reports from health reporters? Was there some kind of group denial?
It’s hard to fathom because governments themselves are grappling with procurement for hard-to-attain medicines and poignant cries for help from hospital CEOs. Yet, this crisis which disproportionally affects children appears to have been lost in the never-ending funding negotiations for health care. This is not a sustainable situation.
Are there any solutions? Maybe.
For decades, activists like former Sen. Landon Pearson; Sen. Rosemary Moodie, a neonatal physician and child’s rights activist; and Sara Austin, the founder and CEO of the national charity Children First Canada, have called for a children’s commissioner. An ombudsperson who could advocate on behalf of children, cut the red tape and navigate the jumble of portfolios under which children shelter: justice, health, youth, child care, children’s rights. It’s egregious that children are found under so many governmental umbrellas, yet lack a home base.
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Imagine if such an office had been at work during this difficult time. A strong and respected voice on behalf of children rising above the politics and jurisdictional issues could have made a difference.
In addition, kids themselves are finding their own activism, a movement which will no doubt affect Canadian politics.
In order to prepare for National Child Day on Nov. 20, a virtual rally was held this week. Some 20,000 children came together virtually to discuss issues ranging from the cost of living to protection from violence and abuse. 16-year-old Jayden Paquet-Noiseux, from Quebec, bluntly stated “our lives are on the line and we’re calling on our government to work with us to find solutions.”
The question remains whether anyone is listening. We have been warned before about the lack of protection for our kids.
A press release from Children First Canada reminds us that earlier this year, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed grave concerns and recommended urgent action for the welfare of Canadian children, particularly Indigenous youth. “That review followed a scathing report a decade ago, with the committee noting that many recommendations from that report remain unaddressed.”
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As this article was being written, things were moving — slightly. Ontario’s chief medical officer strongly suggested Ontarians wear masks while indoors, in order to attempt to halt the spread of viruses, particularly among children.
Via Health Canada, the federal government has managed to obtain supplies from other countries for children’s acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil). However, they won’t be available for a few weeks. Consumers are asked not to hoard, and anyone who tries to price gouge should be called out immediately.
We’ll get through this immediate crisis, but lessons must be learned. It’s past time for governments to prioritize the well-being of Canadian children — because if we don’t, we run the risk that they might just run away.
Penny Collenette is an adjunct professor of law at the University of Ottawa and was a senior director of the Prime Minister’s Office for Jean Chrétien. She is a freelance contributing columnist for the Star.
