The state of children’s health in Canada is cause for concern. Despite the importance of healthy childhoods, the systems throughout the country that support children’s health are plagued by long‑standing issues. Canada has been found to measure poorly relative to other wealthy countries with respect to a number of children’s health outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated many of the pre‑existing issues related to children’s health, with wide‑ranging impacts on children’s physical, mental, developmental, and social well-being. Over the course of 11 meetings, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health (the committee) conducted a study on children’s health, with a focus on addressing both the impacts of the pandemic and deep‑rooted challenges. The testimony and briefs explored a wide range of issues related to children’s health, such as:

• pandemic-related disruptions to children’s education, social and physical activities, and access to health care services;
• years-long wait lists for surgeries, diagnoses, and mental health care;
• critical shortages of pediatric health care professionals;
• the lack of availability of pediatric-specific medications;
• inequities in access to health care among children;
• high levels of obesity and mental health issues among children, along with low levels of healthy eating and physical activity;
• the impact of poverty, abuse, racism, and other social determinants on children’s health; and
• the insufficient availability of national data on important child health and development outcomes.

Witnesses indicated that even though children have unique health needs, their health is often not prioritized in health care funding or policy making. Further, witnesses emphasized that addressing children’s health involves examining not only health care services but also the social determinants of health, as well as the health of the children’s families, schools, and communities.

Witnesses argued that the federal government should do more to improve the health of children in the country. They offered reflections on how to recover losses to children’s well‑being brought on during the pandemic, and how to build resiliency in children and the systems that support them, to ensure that children are protected in any future crisis. The proposed solutions centred around five areas: addressing barriers to health care services for children; encouraging healthy lifestyles and disease prevention; fostering healthy environments for children at home, at school, and in the community; tailoring policy‑making to support children’s needs; and increasing data collection and research on children’s health.

Overall, witnesses stressed that children’s health must be made a priority. Such an approach, many said, reflects a sound investment, not only for the current health of children, but also for the long‑term cost-effectiveness of the health care system, since earlier intervention yields health benefits across a person’s lifetime. Moreover, Canadians envision a healthier future for their children.

This report outlines the committee’s findings and offers 27 recommendations on how the federal government can take immediate action, in collaboration with provinces, territories and stakeholders, to foster healthy childhoods in Canada. Some of the initiatives recommended include:

• developing a national pediatric health care workforce strategy;
• implementing policies to improve access to pediatric drug formulations;
• expanding access to mental health and substance use services for children, adolescents and young adults;
• investing in programs that encourage healthy eating and physical activity among children;
• ensuring full implementation of Jordan’s Principle and the Spirit Bear Plan;
• establishing a national child and youth commissioner; and
• developing a national pediatric health data strategy.