National Child Day – Message from the Minister of Health and the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health

November 20, 2023 | Ottawa, ON | Public Health Agency of Canada

This National Child Day, we acknowledge and celebrate the rights of all children in Canada. Every child deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and have every opportunity to reach their full potential.

Canada's commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child means that we support children in becoming active citizens who contribute meaningfully to decisions that affect their lives. It also means that we recognize the importance of a healthy childhood and the need to protect the rights and freedoms of children.

Protecting the wellbeing of children includes improving the support systems around them. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is working to provide trusted, inclusive, culturally appropriate and locally-tailored supports to children and youth as well as their families, through programs like the Community Action Program for Children, the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program and Aboriginal Head Start in Urban and Northern Communities.

It is also the Government of Canada's priority to keep children safe by providing programs and resources that prevent and address family violence, as well as by collaborating with youth-centred organizations to provide mental health and wellbeing resources for children. Some great examples include partnerships with jack.org and kidshelpphone.ca.

To further raise awareness of child rights, the Public Health Agency of Canada collaborated with Children First Canada to engage children and youth in developing educational videos around child rights. Today, it is our pleasure to release the videos in commemoration of National Child Day. Watch the videos on the National Child Day website, which also includes many resources and activities on child rights. These are especially useful for educators, children, teens, parents and caregivers.

Monuments and buildings across the country will be lit blue today, as part of the UNICEF Go Blue campaign to recognize, promote and commit to the rights of children and youth in Canada. Join us in wearing blue today in support of child rights. We also invite you to have conversations with children and youth in your lives about their rights. Additionally, you can engage in activities across the country to share how you celebrate this day using the hashtag on social media - #NationalChildDay.

Our children are the future of our country. On National Child Day, and every day, let's work together to ensure our children have the tools they need to reach their full potential.

The Honourable Mark Holland, P.C., M.P.
The Honourable Ya'ara Saks, P.C., M.P.