Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you again, Minister. I'd like to talk about your mandate letter and the part where it says to “ensure the voices and needs of children are represented in our Government's agenda, as we work to make Canada the best place to grow up” and to “ensure mental health supports are accessible to children and youth as they recover from the impact of the pandemic.”
The “Raising Canada” report of 2022 from Children First Canada sheds light on the reality that “one-third of kids in Canada do not enjoy a safe and healthy childhood.” Canada ranks 30th out of 38 affluent nations for protecting the well-being of children, according to UNICEF, which is a significant drop from 12th place in 2007. “As a country, we have been going in the wrong direction for far too long.”
Minister, I know you love to talk about child care, but that is for up to age six. I'm curious to know what policies your ministry has updated to support the mental health of children over the age of six.