I rise in this House to recognize today as National Child Day.

The theme of this year�s National Child Day is The right to be heard, as recognized by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Not only is it a child�s right to have a voice in matters that affect them, but providing children with the opportunity to express themselves helps children to learn and communicate effectively.

It is fitting that this day of recognition coincides with our Provincial Child and Youth Advocacy Week, which runs from November 19 to the 25th.

The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate ensures that the voices of our province�s children are heard so that responsible decisions are made on their behalf. Our government is committed to working in partnership with the Child and Youth Advocate to ensure that the needs of children are met.

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.

Government is committed to the health and well-being of the children of Newfoundland and Labrador. To better meet the needs of children, our government has made several strategic investments during this past year. Our new Early Learning and Child Care Plan sets out several initiatives to support quality care and learning experiences that will yield lifelong benefits. Specifically, the plan contains initiatives to:

• make child care more affordable for families;
• support training and other measures to attract more people to the field of child care;
• increase the number of spaces in rural and under serviced areas;
• support the inclusion of children with special needs; and,
• improve the quality and developmental opportunities for children.

Additionally, our Provincial Wellness Plan set out strategies that support healthy living to improve the health and well-being of children in Newfoundland and Labrador.

In keeping with our government�s commitment to improve the health of our province�s children, government invested $4.1 million this year to improve the children�s dental health program. The increased contribution by government has removed the financial burden carried by parents for dental services, benefiting approximately 67,000 children in the province.

I encourage residents to participate in local events across our province celebrating National Child Day. I also ask my colleagues to wear a blue ribbon to mark this special day. Join with me to show your support for the most precious and most important resource of Newfoundland and Labrador - our children.

2006 11 20                                                  2:10 p.m.