The following statement was issued today by John Ottenheimer, Minister of Health and Community Services. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

I rise in this House today in recognition of National Child Day, which took place on Sunday, November 20, 2005.

This year�s theme is children have a right to play. The importance of play to a child�s well being is highlighted in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child.

Children are among the most vulnerable members of society and we all have a responsibility to protect and nurture them. National Child Day serves as a reminder of the importance of guarding the rights of children and providing them with safe and appropriate environments for healthy development.

A child�s play time during the early years sets the stage for healthy cognitive development. Research has proven that it is through playing that children naturally learn skills that will last throughout their life.

Our government is committed to improving the quality of life for children and families in this province. To better meet the needs of children, our government has made several strategic investments in early learning and childcare over the past year.

Our government provided $6.5 million in Budget 2005 to improve services in regulated childcare, child protection and victim services for children.

Furthermore, we signed an agreement-in-principle with the federal government to enhance early learning and childcare services, and we also established a Ministerial Council on Early Childhood Learning to focus on the learning needs of children and their families.

I would like to ask my colleagues to join with me in recognizing the efforts of all those who care for our province�s children by wearing a blue ribbon to mark this special day.

2005 11 21                         1:50 p.m.