A BETTER FUTURE FOR CANADA'S CHILDREN was one of the predominant themes at a Provincial-Territorial meeting, says Health and Social Services Minister Walter McEwen.
On Monday and Tuesday, the Ministers of Social Services from across Canada met in Victoria, British Columbia to discuss common issues.
"We dealt with a large number of items, but many of them boil down to the challenge of ensuring that Canada's children have the opportunity to develop to their full potential," Mr. McEwen said.
Mr. McEwen said the Ministers discussed a work plan to develop a National Child Benefit, a National Children's Strategy and increased sharing of information between provinces on successful children's programs.
"Many of these matters will involve joint work with the federal government," Mr. McEwen said. "The Social Services Ministers will be working closely with a Federal-Provincial council on social policy renewal to ensure that these issues are kept at the fore of a national debate on where social policy is heading in this country."
In order to promote discussion between federal and provincial officials, Human Resources Development Canada Minister Doug Young was invited to the first day of the Victoria meeting.
Mr. McEwen said that at their August conference, the Provincial Premiers identified a National Child Benefit and an integrated income plan for persons with disabilities as two policy areas that needed attention over the next six months. The Victoria meeting of the Social Services Ministers examined how these concepts can be developed.