Honourable senators, I rise today to acknowledge the delegation from Children’s Healthcare Canada and the Pediatric Chairs of Canada, who are on the Hill this week advocating for transformative changes to improve children’s health outcomes in Canada.

As the Chair of the All-Party Child Health Caucus, I recognize the urgency of moving beyond Band-Aid solutions to address the crisis in child and youth physical and mental health. It is time that we recognize children’s health and well-being as a national priority. Short-term, patchwork solutions implemented jurisdiction by jurisdiction have proven insufficient. We must take decisive and collective action.

Children’s Healthcare Canada’s new report, Beyond Band-Aids: Delivering Healthcare Fit for Kids, outlines a number of actions we can take as a country to measurably and equitably improve health outcomes for all children in Canada.

Simply put, colleagues, maintaining the status quo is not an option. Our historically siloed, patchwork approach to tackling the complex health and social needs of children, youth and families is failing our kids, their health care providers and — quite frankly — the future of our country.

Let us commit to working together to implement comprehensive and sustainable solutions that will truly transform the future for youth, children and their families — and, indeed, our collective future. Thank you.