A Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada’s news release alerts us to the stalling of Bill S-228, The Child Health Protection Act, an Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (prohibiting food and beverage marketing directed at children) in the Senate due to industry lobbying. “This is exactly why MORE
CBC News: ‘There’s so many kids dying’: Mother says anti-gang program that saved her son desperately needs funding CBC News: Child poverty decreasing ‘pitifully slowly’ in B.C., report finds Vancouver Sun: B.C. child poverty figures remain bad, but report sounds note of optimism The Tyee: Whose Children Are Growing Up MORE
On Monday November 5, the Legislative Assembly of BC voted unanimously to approve the Poverty Reduction Strategy Act. This is an exciting next step towards eliminating poverty in BC, especially noting that the Act calls for a 50% reduction of child poverty in BC by 2024. A late amendment to the MORE
CBC News: Legislation sets path for human rights commission to return to B.C. CBC News: Homeless, vulnerable only find best health care when at death’s door, UVic study finds CTV News: Greyhound exit leaves gap for homeless, domestic violence shelters CBC News: Province responds to allegations against employee who allegedly siphoned funds from Indigenous MORE
Federally, Bill C-78 passed second reading in Parliament in October and is currently under review by the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. The bill proposes significant changes in the laws that affect children caught up in the separation and/or divorce of their parents and related family court processes. MORE
In August, the Government of Canada appealed an Ontario Superior Court decision that restricting political activities is a violation of the right to freedom of expression. This week, the government announced that it will “remove the limits on political activities for charities, so that they may pursue their charitable purposes MORE
Girl Guides of Canada recently released results of a research study by Ipsos Reid that surveyed over 1,200 girls and boys in Canada aged 12-18. The survey found that girls are twice as likely as boys to have experienced sexism. Race also has an impact on girls’ concern of gender MORE
UNICEF Canada released The Equalizer: How Education Creates Fairness for Children in Canada this week, which is the Canadian Companion to the global report. In The Equalizer, UNICEF digs deeper into what contributes to inequalities and how Canada could do better. Out of 38 rich countries, Canada ranks 9th in MORE
CBC News: Centre for Truth and Reconciliation to develop memorial register of residential school deaths BC Local News: Residential school ‘monster’ now lives in child-welfare system: senator Delta Optimist: B.C. announces new transition housing for women fleeing violence Benzinga: Public education is a strong equalizing force in Canadian society, UNICEF MORE
The major rise in caesarean sections around the world is being called unprecedented and unjustified. The Lancet Series finds that the global rate of caesarean birth has doubled in the past 15 years to 21%, and is increasing annually by 4%. There is growing concern as women who do not MORE
Nanos, Plan International, and Because I am a Girl shared results from a September 2018 survey of 1000 Canadian girls. The survey found that three in four Canadian girls report experiencing gender-based discrimination and two in three have a female friend who has been sexually harassed. Almost one year since MORE
On September 5, 2018, Health Canada launched a public consultation on potential next steps in the Canadian Drugs and Substances Strategy (CDSS). The CDSS is the federal government’s health-focused approach to substance use issues. First Call is looking for youth who are knowledgeable on substance use to participate in our submission to MORE
Toronto.com: (Opinion) Extend Canada Child Benefit to all The Nelson Daily: Op/Ed:Progress on Child Care in BC StarMetro Vancouver: Even social-housing workers are being priced out of Vancouver Global News: Housing crunch pushing even the suburbs out of reach of B.C. families: report Times Colonist: Tent cities a ‘viable first step’ toward solving housing crisis MORE
Kelowna Daily Courier: B.C. budget committee hears plea for provincial funds for youth recovery house Columbia Valley Pioneer: B.C. advocacy groups aim for new federal autism funding Globe and Mail: B.C. cancer patient’s case exposes gaps in care for homeless people, advocates say The Tyee: Health Minister Reflects on BC’s ‘Big Challenge’: Fighting Poverty MORE
First Call joins organizations across Canada in endorsing Sugary Drinks Levy’s campaign calling the Government of Canada to introduce a levy on manufacturers of sugary drinks to reduce consumption and to partially recover related health care costs. The proceeds of a sugary drink levy on manufacturers should be used to fund healthy living initiatives MORE