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A home for paediatricians. A voice for children and youth.

Election 2025

The Canadian Paediatric Society is challenging all political parties and candidates to prioritize the health and well-being of children and youth during this federal election. 

Eight million children and youth in Canada do not have a vote this election but will be directly impacted by its result. 

Two of the most pressing issues with specific and unique impacts on the paediatric population are child and family poverty and health human resources. 

 

Ending Child & Family Poverty

Socio-economic status is one of the most significant determinants of health and well-being, impacting everything from food and nutrition, housing, clean water, early childhood development, educational outcomes, and access to prescription drugs and medical services. After years of significant progress, 2022 saw the largest annual increase in child poverty rates on record with a jump of 2.5% from 2021. Urgent action is needed now to ensure recent progress is not undone.

To reduce rates of child and family poverty in Canada, the next federal government should: 

  1. Develop a National Strategy for Children and Youth that advances health and well-being and upholds the right to an adequate standard of living
  2. Improve the ability of the Canada Child Benefit to lift more families out of poverty by raising the Adjusted Family Net Income at which benefits start to be reduced and implementing a supplement for families in deep poverty
  3. Prioritize housing as a public health issue and ensure that policy initiatives are specifically informed by the health impacts of housing on children and youth
  4. Increase investments in the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) system to effectively support workers and ensure access to high-quality and affordable ELCC for all

 

Strengthening Health Human Resources

Canada is experiencing a health workforce crisis. The number of paediatric health care providers per capita is inadequate to meet the needs of children and youth in Canada. As a result, physician burnout rates are increasing dramatically and in many jurisdictions children are waiting longer than adults for essential physical and mental health services. Developing children cannot afford to wait for care. Federal, provincial and territorial governments must work together to better support the health and well-being of children and youth and the providers who care for them.

To strengthen health human resources in Canada, the next federal government should:

  1. Implement a national paediatric health human resources strategy in collaboration with the provinces and territories
  2. Work with the provinces and territories to modernize the ability of health care professionals to practice across Canada and reduce barriers to interprovincial mobility
  3. Increase investments in innovative, interprofessional team-based models of care that are designed to meet the unique needs of children and youth
  4. Simplify, streamline and automate applications for federal benefits wherever possible to increase their reach and effectiveness and reduce administrative burdens on health care providers

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Last updated: Apr 11, 2025

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