97.10PU Child Protection Services in Canada
Whereas, in 1981, the National Council of Women of Canada (NCWC) petitioned the Government of Canada to work through provincial and territorial cost-sharing arrangements to finance the establishment and training of prevention teams to deal with child abuse; and
Whereas, in 1987, NCWC urged the Government of Canada to work with provincial governments to meet the needs of sexually abused children and their families, and asked the Provincial Councils of Women to press their respective governments for programs and services for child victims of sexual abuse; and
Whereas, federal transfer payments made under the new Canada Health and Social Transfer have no conditions attached to them and do not require the money to be spent on social programs; and
Whereas, a number of provincial governments have cut funding to child welfare services; and
Whereas, in 1994, NCWC urged the Government of Canada to halt the erosion of social programs and to continue to engage in widespread consultation about new social program alternatives which will strengthen the Canadian social fabric and ensure the health and education of all citizens into the twenty-first century; therefore, be it
Resolved, that the National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada, as part of a renewed commitment to children, to develop in conjunction with the provinces, national standards under the new Canada Health and Social Transfer, which will ensure adequate, designated funds to provide high-quality child protection and preventive community services.