🍁 civid v1

Purpose and scope

• The bill would require a designated federal minister to develop a national strategy for children and youth in Canada. The Governor in Council could designate any federal minister for this role.
• It identifies no amendments to existing laws. The source describes the bill as passed by the Senate on March 10, 2026, and lists its stage as first reading.

National strategy

• The strategy must identify federal objectives including eliminating child poverty, equitable access to mental health services and supports, a high and consistent standard of living, and compliance with specified international instruments on children’s, Indigenous peoples’ and persons with disabilities’ rights.
• It must set measurable outcomes and indicators, including indicators reflecting the distinct realities and needs of First Nations, Inuit and Métis children and youth. It must assess whether objectives have been met and provide a detailed plan for unmet objectives.
• It must identify the resources needed and propose mechanisms for public monitoring, continued consultation, updates, consideration of complaints from children and youth, and parliamentary oversight. The bill does not itself specify funding or establish those mechanisms.

Consultation and who is affected

• The minister must consult children and youth, relevant federal ministers, provincial and municipal representatives, Indigenous governing bodies and organizations, and relevant stakeholders.
• The minister must ensure that children and youth consulted reflect their diversity and experiences, and make every reasonable effort to provide culturally safe consultation and opportunities to participate in their own languages.
• The strategy must pay particular attention to mental health needs in specified communities and groups, including Indigenous, immigrant and refugee, rural and remote, racialized and disabled children and youth.
• The minister must also consider matters including Jordan’s Principle, the Inuit Child First Initiative, relevant reconciliation and inquiry recommendations, and federal early learning and child care commitments.

Reporting deadlines

• Every six months after royal assent, until the strategy is tabled, the minister must table progress reports in both Houses, including a list of consultees who consent.
• Within 24 months of royal assent, the strategy must be tabled in both Houses and published on a government website within 10 days after tabling in both.
• Within five years of tabling, and every five years thereafter, the minister must review implementation and results, consult the specified groups and report to Parliament. The completed report must be tabled within the first 15 sitting days of each House.