Statistics Canada and Children First Canada partner on COVID-19 response

Ottawa, November 20, 2020

Statistics Canada is pleased to announce a partnership with a national organization dedicated to the well-being of children to explore ways to improve the lives of the nation's youngest Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The partnership with Children First Canada, which is being announced on National Child Day, will explore opportunities to develop data-driven decision tools for policy makers. These timely and evidence-based decision supports could help guide the nation's policy makers as they evaluate ways, in a time-sensitive and rapidly evolving environment, to improve the lives of children and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Children First Canada is a national non-profit alliance of children's charities, hospitals, research institutes and corporations that works with young people and advocates on their behalf to improve their well-being.

"The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need for leaders in both the public and private sectors to harness the power of data so that they can see challenges and issues sooner and act faster. Through partnerships and innovative collaboration, Statistics Canada is playing a prominent role in helping our country better understand the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. By responsibly using data to develop deeper insights, we are enabling leaders to make more timely, evidence-based decisions that will improve the lives of the nation's children and their families."

Anil Arora, Chief Statistician, Statistics Canada

"Children First Canada is proud to partner with Statistics Canada to better understand the impacts of COVID-19 on children and families. This process will bring together Canadian children and youth with industry leaders and decision-makers. Children have valuable ideas and opinions that are crucial for the development of truly child-centred policies. When young people are informed and engaged, better decisions will be made within families, schools and even at the highest levels of government. We need to act with children, not for them."

Sara Austin, founder and CEO of Children First Canada

For more information, contact Media Relations at 613-951-4636, statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca or Children First Canada.

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