Children's Advocate takes final shots at government
CBC - Mar 13, 2001
VICTORIA B.C.'s watchdog for children's rights is accusing the provincial government of undermining the needs of thousands of children and their families. In the final report of her six-year term, Child, Youth and Family Advocate Joyce Preston says leadership and staffing problems, combined with a lack of research and planning, have led to the situation. Preston says that, as a result, NDP government services for young people have been all talk and no action.
In her report "Children's Advocate report for 2000", she makes six major recommendations in her last report:
- More stable leadership
- Stable and experienced staff
- Needs-based budgeting
- Community-based services
- Early development fund
- And more services to the Aboriginal community.
Reaction
The Liberal children's critic says the report is a damning indictment of a decade of NDP governments. Linda Reid says the New Democrats have ignored Preston's recommendations for years. She accuses the NDP of putting megaprojects like fast ferries ahead of the needs of children. The B.C. Social Planning and Research Council agrees the NDP have not made children a priority, but notes that no Canadian government has done so. SPARC spokesperson Michael Goldberg says the next provincial government needs to start with stable leadership in the Children and Families Ministry and to be flexible on ministry finances.
"We must vigilantly stand on guard within our own borders for human rights and fundamental freedoms which are our proud heritage......we cannot take for granted the continuance and maintenance of those rights and freedoms."
John Diefenbaker
(1895-1979)
About The truth
"All truth passes through three stages. First it is ridiculed, Second it is violently opposed. Third it is accepted as self-evident."
Arthur
Schopenhauer
(1788-1860)
"In a world darkened by ethnic conflicts that tear nations apart, Canada stands as a model of how people of different cultures can live and work together in peace, prosperity, and mutual respect."
Bill Clinton
(William J. Clinton)
42nd President of The United States of America
Canada's
national "Child Day"
November 20th
Canada's "Child Day" is held on November 20th each year as designated by the Parliament of Canada in 1993.
It commemorates the United Nations adoption of two landmark documents concerned with the human rights of all children and youths. Read More ..
Canadian appointed U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights
Louise Arbour took up her duties on July 1, 2004 as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Her term in office ended in June 2008.
Mrs. Arbour was a member of the Supreme Court of Canada immediately preceding her appointment to the UN as Commissioner for Human Rights.
Louise Arbour: a colleague we have failed
Law Times, Canada
22 September 2008
This profession - and all of us in it - have failed to protect, honour, and defend one of our most accomplished and distinguished members. We have let Louise Arbour down by our silence when she needed and deserved voices of support.
On July 1, Arbour stepped down as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, an enormously prestigious and important international position.
The gratitude and praise which greeted her at the end of her term was shamefully muted. Arbour was a courageous champion of human rights, and a bold critic of the erosion of those basic tenets in our world.
She was never timid. She was never chained to a desk, was involved, hands on, outspoken, and challenging. She breathed life into the enormous portfolio that she was asked to take on.