News

Newly tabled legislation in Alberta threatens health and wellbeing of children and youth

Ottawa – November 1, 2024 - Yesterday, the Alberta government tabled legislation “to prohibit minors from receiving certain types of gender-affirming care, require parents be notified when a child wants to use a different name or pronoun in the classroom, and also require that parents opt-in before their children are taught about sex in class.”

Children’s Healthcare Canada strongly opposes this legislation which will negatively impact the physical, mental and sexual health of children and youth in the...

Sweetening the Deal: Investing in Our Children’s Future This Halloween

Ottawa - October 17, 2024 - As the Bloc Québécois is pushing the Liberal minority government to bolster Old Age Security (OAS) payments, a wider debate over how the federal government chooses to divide its spending among age cohorts is gaining traction in Ottawa.

Boosting OAS payments by ten per cent for seniors aged 65 to 74 represents an amount equivalent to roughly $4B annually according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer. As child rights advocates, we wonder: if this kind of budget ambition can be...

Securing Our Future: Transforming Child Health Through Accountability & Strategic Leadership

Children’s Healthcare Canada, the Pediatric Chairs of Canada, the Canadian Association of Paediatric Nurses and Inspiring Healthy Futures acknowledge the federal government's response to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health (HESA) Child Health Study. 

While we appreciate the attention given to critical areas of child and youth health, including the mental health crisis, pediatric drug access, and efforts to address physician shortages, we urge for more decisive action and robust...

Children’s Healthcare Canada National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Statement

“Reconciliation is all around us. It isn’t limited to just one day, one moment, one act. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a reminder that when we acknowledge truth, listen to one another, and work together, we can build a more prosperous country where all children and families have equal access to services and opportunities.” 

- Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary May Simon, Governor General of Canada 

On September 30, Canada observes the National Day for Truth and...

Putting Families First: A Blueprint for a Healthier Canada in Budget 2025

Recommendations

1. Invest $1 million to develop a pan-Canadian children’s strategy that includes targets and timelines to enhance children’s health outcomes.
2. Invest $8 million annually to establish and operate an office for a Chief Children’s Health Officer.
3. Commit $10 billion over ten years for dedicated and protected ring-fenced funding to facilitate right-sizing children’s health systems across the continuum of care, including child health research.

Introduction

Children and youth in Canada are...