moved for leave to introduce Bill C-254, an act to amend the Interpretation Act (convention on the rights of the child).
Mr. Speaker, I have a few comments to accompany what is essentially the introduction of a children's bill of rights. This bill would require the Government of Canada to interpret all legislation in harmony with the UN declaration on the rights of the child which Canada was instrumental in engineering and has already signed.
We will remember that the House unanimously voted in 1989 to end child poverty by the year 2000. Since that time child poverty has increased. We will remember the UN declaration on the rights of the child. This bill will ensure that Canada will enforce the concept that Canadian children be free from exploitation and abuse, that government action should be interpreted with regard to children in the best interests of the child, that children should have access to child care, health care and a standard of living that at minimum meets basic needs, and that disabled children should receive the same level of dignity and opportunities as other children.
It is important if we are going to put words into action to ensure that commitments Canada has made on behalf of its children are enforced by the government. At the moment this is sadly not the case. The position of Canadian children is getting worse.
I hope that along with my colleagues from Yukon, from Burnaby-Kingsway, from Kamloops and also from Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, who all indicated their support for this bill, we will see some action in this regard.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)