Children First Canada fighting to improve health, wellbeing of kids

Canada has fallen far behind other countries when it comes to children’s wellbeing, sliding backwards on rates of poverty, mental health and violence against young people.

Sara Austin, CEO of advocacy organization Children First Canada, said over the past decade our country has been on a “sharp downward trajectory” when it comes to children’s mental and physical health. There is also a “shockingly high” rate of child poverty. 

The organization’s Raising Canada 2023 report includes some troubling findings: There has been a sharp rise in violence, racism and food insecurity among kids, and half of Canadian youth experienced depression during the pandemic.  Canada now ranks 30th out of 38 OECD countries on children’s wellbeing, according to UNICEF.

“In a country like Canada, I think it’s very shocking to many Canadians that we have fallen so far behind compared to other wealthy nations,” said Austin. “We pride ourselves as Canadians for being a land of prosperity and opportunity, for being a country that defends human rights. But when it comes to the wellbeing of our children, we’ve really fallen far behind. We are a global laggard rather than a leader.”

The sixth annual published report is based on research conducted by the University of Calgary, the University of Toronto and McGill University. Researchers compiled existing data and conducted interviews with youth, parents and other subject matter experts.

“Our country cannot prosper if its kids are languishing. We know that if so many of our kids are suffering from this significant adversity in their early years of life that we are going to pay for it,” she said. “Not only in the moral costs of allowing our kids to suffer, but also hard economic costs.”

The Raising Canada report makes key recommendations to turn things around, including establishing a federal commissioner for children and youth with a national strategy to track progress; creating a special fund of $2 billion over four years and providing platforms for children and youth to exercise their rights.

“There’s clear evidence that when we invest in the early years that you have healthier children who become healthier adults. It’s basic common sense, and there’s hard evidence to back that up,” Austin said. 

Our country cannot prosper if its kids are languishing. We know that if so many of our kids are suffering from this significant adversity in their early years of life that we are going to pay for it.

Sara Austin, CEO,
Children First Canada

A national survey conducted by Nanos Research for the Coalition for a Better Future found that young Canadian adults are not feeling optimistic about their future. Of the participants aged 18-34, 58.3 per cent said Canada is going in the wrong direction when it comes to ensuring Canadians have a high standard of living, and 41.5 per cent said the country is moving in the wrong direction on being a leader in the fight against climate change.

Climate change is among the top threats to child wellbeing cited in the Raising Canada report, along with a lack of physical activity, poor mental health, racism and discrimination. 

“There’s this proverb that it takes a village to raise a child, but I believe it takes a nation to raise a nation,” she said. “We need strong and effective policies, we need investments that are made for the lives of children and to follow evidence-based approaches.”

These objectives of Children First Canada are aligned with the Coalition for a Better Future in creating a more prosperous and equitable society for all Canadians.

“It really starts with giving kids a healthy start in life, protecting the rights of citizens and giving them a voice and a seat at the table when decisions are being made about their life,” Austin said.

“We need solutions that are obviously targeting adults but it starts with giving kids that best start in life and we know that right now they’re simply not getting it. We’re so grateful to have leaders like Anne McLellan and Lisa Raitt working to lead the charge and unite the private sector, government, civil society all around these shared goals.”