Statement made on 20 November 2007 by Senator Trenhome Counsell (retired)
Hon. Marilyn Trenholme Counsell:
Honourable senators, I too wish to
speak about children. Today, as we know, is a day of celebration in recognition
of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; a day made even more special in
this country because we too have made our own declaration: A Canada fit for
children.
The children of Canada are our future. All that we do for them during our
lifetime will be reflected in their lives. All that we fail to do will also be
reflected in the span of Canada's years. The majority of Canada's children are
healthy. They are succeeding at school and many are bringing glory to our nation
through scholarship, the arts and sports. Our youngest citizens ask the most
important questions. They may also offer the most insightful answers. In human
rights, global issues, the environment and sheer goodness, they have much to
teach my generation. However, too many of our children are being left behind and
are not reaching their full potential.
Therefore, honourable senators, on this day dedicated to Canada's children, I
am bound to reflect on why this is true: first, poverty in a million Canadian
homes; second, a failure to make children a national priority; and third, all
too often an unwillingness to acknowledge the latest research and
non-fulfillment of our duty to act, especially by governments.
We cannot accept that as many as one third of our children are vulnerable.
They are the orphan's orphan when it comes to mental health and addiction.
Maternal depression is said to be the single greatest contributor to childhood
vulnerability, regardless of socio-economic status.
One path of action stands above all others if we are to do our utmost as
individual citizens and as a nation to respect the rights of each child to reach
her or his potential. That path is early childhood intervention. It must begin
with our youth, even before they enter into parenthood, followed by maternal and
prenatal health taken far more seriously than ever before in Canada.
Every child must be assessed as soon as possible after birth and then at two
to three years for signs of health and developmental disorders. Physical and
mental challenges must be identified at the earliest possible stage, with
appropriate interventions and sustained follow-up. Parents must be involved
continuously. There must be an enlightened will at the national, provincial,
territorial and community level to make early childhood development a priority
in our homes and wherever child care is provided in our communities.
From the Governor of the Bank of Canada to this nation's foremost researchers
and educators, from neuroscientists to social scientists we are hearing the same
message: Children are our greatest investment. Every dollar spent now will save
$6 to $8 in the future, yet this message falls on deaf ears all too often.
Parents of children with learning disorders, autism, FASD, ADHD and the new
one, CAPD, chronic auditory processing disorder, anxiety disorders, depression,
and even bipolar and schizophrenic symptoms, are crying for help yet Canada all
too often offers tokenism instead of commitment and generosity.
Aboriginal parents desperately need education and prenatal care. Their
children need a head start in every sense that such programs can be developed.
Canada can and should become a leader in public education.