A. PREAMBLE

The announcement by the Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat concerning the Early Childhood Development Initiative was a substantive move towards a National Children's Agenda. Briefly, the First Ministers, with the exception of Quebec, agreed to a number of key agreements, key action areas, and commitments. For detailed information go to the national Children's Alliance website at: www.nationalchildrensalliance.com.

The National Children's Alliance will continue to consult with communities on the content and process of engagement for a National Children's Agenda.
 

B. BACKGROUNDTO THE REGIONAL FORUMS

Governments recognized the need for a vision: "A vision that can help all parts of our society focus on children's needs - a vision that can move each of us in a common direction as we play our own individual roles". In the document, governments articulated that "Canadians want their country to be one where all children thrive in an atmosphere of love, care and understanding, valued as individuals in childhood, and given opportunities to reach their full potential as adults. Respected and protected from harm, children will grow up to respect and protect the rights of others. Valued, nurtured and loved, they will grow up able to contribute to a society that appreciates diversity, supports the less able, and shares its resources. Given the opportunity to develop their physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual capacities to their fullest, children will become tomorrow's successful and enthusiastic parents, caregivers, workers and citizens".

An important aspect of the vision statement is the acknowledgment by the government of the importance of working with the voluntary sector. The voluntary sector plays an important role in working collaboratively with governments to create "circles of responsibility around children, families, and their communities that can inspire new solutions across the country". Governments are also recognizing that the voluntary sector needs to participate with them in policy development processes. The voluntary sector has a role to play in the development and implementation of a National Children's Agenda. The voluntary sector plays a critical role in delivering services in communities. It is also important to note that as the twenty-first century begins, we are in the midst of major changes on how we work at the community level. More and more we recognize the need to engage those we serve.

It is clear that in order to move forward, governments need to collaborate with each other and the voluntary sector. Mechanisms to involve the voluntary sector in the process over the long term need to be developed and implemented to ensure the best policy mix for a children's agenda.

So why haven't the governments moved from vision to implementation?

The answer lies in part with the difficulties of the intergovernmental processes that are our reality in the Canadian federation. Up until now, the fate of the National Children's Agenda has been tied up with the workings of the Ministerial Council on Social Policy Renewal. This body has federal, provincial and territorial representation and operates as an inter-governmental negotiating arena.

How can we move the Agenda beyond the Ministerial Council?

Now that the National Children's Agenda is on the table, it is critical that we send a strong collective message to governments about its importance, its potential to make a difference, and the need to engage the voluntary sector in a meaningful dialogue. The regional forums provided an opportunity to collaborate on a strategy to put these issues back on the agenda of our provincial/territorial governments.

The document: "A National Children's Agenda: Developing a Shared Vision" also represents a commitment to work collaboratively to develop and implement a National Children's Agenda. At this point, it is only shared vision. Now is the time to urge our governments to work with each other and with the voluntary sector to make this vision a reality.

C. THE "SHORT-TERM" WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY

It is critical that all levels of government understand that they have our support in negotiating an agreement on early childhood development services with other provincial/territorial governments and with the federal government. This is a time of opportunity and a time for collaboration, not for adversarial inter-governmental processes.

But first, governments need to make this a priority and come to an agreement on how they are going to work together to make the National Children's Agenda a reality. The challenge is to make sure that governments hear:

• how important a National Children's Agenda could be to children, youth and their families;
• that we in this sector agree that this is a priority and that an agreement on the first step by December 2000 on early childhood development is critical.

D. THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF A NATIONAL CHILDREN'S AGENDA

Firstly, it has the potential to make children a priority with governments and therefore to produce significant positive public policy changes. These policy changes could make it easier for communities to coordinate and integrate services. It is also possible that this commitment could include much needed investment in services by both levels of government.

Secondly, at a time when the social union agreement has been signed and signals hope for a renewal of social policy, the National Children's Agenda could provide governments with the opportunity to develop a more collaborative model of intergovernmental relations.

Thirdly, the recognition of the critical role of the voluntary sector opens the door to genuine engagement with the voluntary sector in the development and implementation of policy.

Now that the National Children's Agenda is on the table, it is critical that we send a strong collective message to governments about its importance, its potential to make a difference, and the need to engage the voluntary sector in meaningful dialogue.

E. PURPOSE OF THE REGIONAL FORUMS INITIATIVE

The Regional Forums (Forums) were a vehicle to facilitate dialogue among voluntary organizations working at the provincial/territorial level on how the voluntary sector can contribute to the development and implementation of a National Children's Agenda. As well, the Forums were the opportunity to discuss principles for a National Children's Agenda and essential services for all communities, and to generate plans & activities that will maximize the collective influence of the provinces and territories and the Alliance towards an agreement by December 2000 on early childhood services.

It was hoped that the dialogue would encourage the development of effective partnerships and collaboration, would build a broader consensus on the essential elements of the National Children's Agenda, and would result in the sharing of the Forum results with government representatives at all levels in order to move the National Children's Agenda forward.

F. THE PROCESS/PROTOCOL OF THE REGIONAL FORUMS

The Alliance provided all necessary background information for the hosts and participants in the form of an electronically circulated workshop kit. The agenda had three key components:

• Addressing the principles to guide the National Children's Agenda;
• Exploring what the essential services should be in Canadian communities in order to meet the needs of children, youth and families;
• Providing the opportunity to develop collective strategies and action plans to urge governments to move forward on an agreement for early childhood services by December 2000.

Twelve (12) Regional Forums were held in Vancouver, Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, St. John's, Fredericton, Charlottetown, Halifax, Whitehorse, Yellowknife, and Iqaluit from May through mid June 2000.

Funding from HRDC and Health Canada was provided to send a NCA representative to most of the meetings. This proved to be very valuable. It provided consistency in both the content and format of the meetings, it helped in the development of strategies, and input by the NCA representative will be helpful in wrapping up a final report.