BILL NO. 378

(as introduced)

1st Session, 64th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
2 Charles III, 2023

 

Private Member's Bill

 

Children's Rights Impact Assessments Act

 

Lisa Lachance
Halifax Citadel–Sable Island

First Reading: October 26, 2023

Second Reading:

Third Reading:

 

An Act to Require Children's
Rights Impact Assessments

WHEREAS in 1991, Canada ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and thus Canada has an obligation to consider children's rights, including the best interests of the child, in all matters that affect them;

AND WHEREAS UNICEF Report Card 16 (2020) ranked Canada 30th out of 38 nations;

AND WHEREAS in 2022, the United Nations issued an independent review of Canada's Convention implementation, expressing grave concerns about the welfare of children who live in Canada, particularly Indigenous children;

THEREFORE be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:

1 This Act may be cited as the Children's Rights Impact Assessments Act.

2 (1) The Minister responsible for Youth, in collaboration with the Minister of Community Services, the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, the Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs and the Minister responsible for L'nu Affairs, shall create a children's rights impact assessment tool to be implemented in Government decision-making processes.

(2) The children's rights impact assessment tool must include consideration of ongoing financial and human resources requirements, training and accountability.

(3) The ministers referred to in subsection (1) shall determine

(a) what decisions must be considered using the children's rights impact assessment tool, including different levels of consideration for different types of decisions;

(b) the process for implementing the children's rights impact assessment tool in Government decision-making;

(c) the basis for assessments using the children's rights impact assessment tool, including

(i) the Convention on the Rights of the Child and protocols under the Convention, and

(ii) the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada;

(d) mechanisms for accountability in the use of the children's rights impact assessment tool;

(e) requirements for consultation with children and other stakeholders;

(f) the role of independent statutory advocacy offices for children; and

(g) the age ranges within which people are considered children for the purpose of the children's rights impact assessment tool.

 

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