NEWS RELEASE

Sub-Committee unanimously calls for overhaul of federal government’s First NationS ECD Programming

For immediate release – June 12, 2002

Ottawa – The federal government must radically overhaul its First Nations early childhood development programs, says a new report unanimously adopted by the all-party Sub-Committee on Children and Youth at Risk. 

The report, Building on Success, makes important recommendations to the House.  The Sub-Committee urges the government to substantially change the way it administers programs for First Nations families and young children living on reserves by streamlining federal funding and accountability mechanisms for early childhood development services into one envelope. 

According to Larry Spencer, MP (Regina-Lumsden-Lake Centre), “To piece together a coherent set of early childhood development services Aboriginals have to be masters at grantsmanship and that’s wrong.  The federal departments don’t communicate with each other enough.  The harmonization will empower Aboriginals to make needs-based decisions in an efficient manner.  It is my hope that the appropriate Ministers seriously consider our committee's recommendations which are aimed at trying to reduce the barriers caused in the delivery of services meant to assist Aboriginal children."

The Sub-Committee also calls for the establishment of community based, universally accessible early childhood development demonstration projects in selected First Nations across the country.  If successful, they would have major implications for the rest of Canada as well.  As John Godfrey MP (Don Valley West), Chair of the Sub-Committee notes:   “Our government has often stated its commitment to improving the conditions of Aboriginal children living on reserves.  These demonstration communities are the place to begin.  They represent an opportunity to set the standard for early childhood development and to ensure our most vulnerable children get the right start in life.”

In preparing its report over the past year, the Sub-Committee met with representatives of First Nations bands and communities, federal departments, experts in early childhood development, and native leaders from across Canada.

The member for Laurentides and Bloc Quebecois critic for children, Monique Guay, expressed her support for the report by the Sub-Committee on Children and Youth at Risk.  "The problems faced by young Native children and their families require prompt and concerted action. Native children can count on my unfailing support to move the report beyond the stage of good intentions so that permanent solutions may finally be proposed", said Ms Guay.

The report, which considers the condition of First Nations children from the prenatal period to age 6 living on reserve, is the first of four phases of the Sub-Committee’s study of Aboriginal children from the prenatal period to age 12 living on and off reserve.  When combined with the Senate Aboriginal Peoples Committee’s current study of urban Aboriginal youth aged 12-24, the studies will constitute an unprecedented examination of the challenges and opportunities facing Aboriginal children and youth, and enable government to take informed steps to improve their quality of life.

Building On Success was tabled in the House of Commons today by Judi Longfield MP (Whitby-Ajax), chair of the HRDC Committee.  The report was given unanimous support by the Sub-Committee and the HRDC Standing Committee.

The committee requested the Government table a comprehensive response within 150 days.

Sub-Committee On Children and Youth At Risk of the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities     

Members

Libby Davies                             Diane St-Jacques

John Godfrey (Chair)                 Greg Thompson

Monique Guay                           Tony Tirabassi

Anita Neville                             Alan Tonks

Larry Spencer                          

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For further information, please contact:

Andrew Kovacs

Legislative Assistant to John Godfrey MP

613-992-2855

Donald Longuépée

Parliamentary Assistant to Monique Guay, MP          

613-992-3257

John Nieuwenhuis

Parliamentary Assistant to Larry Spencer, MP

613-992-4573