Where are the children?

OTTAWA - "Don't forget the children!" That's the message that the Canadian School Boards Association (CSBA) gave to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance during their pre-budget consultations.

            "With a dramatic shift in Canada's spending priorities, we wanted to see that the best interests of Canada's children were not forgotten," says Gary Shaddock, President of CSBA. "We know that security issues must be addressed, but Paul Martin missed an

opportunity to invest in our most valuable resource - our children and our future."

            A staggering number of Canadian children and youth are living in poverty. That number has increased exponentially over the last decade. And, with the current downturn in the economy, the number of Canadian children and youth facing economic hardship will increase further.

            "It is this government's responsibility to ensure that all Canadian children have equal opportunities to succeed," says Shaddock. "Not only in education, but in healthy living

and acquiring life skills. This budget did nothing to address those needs. We applaud the investment made for Aboriginal children, but we want the government to take a look at all children in need."

            The Canadian School Boards Association is the national voice of school boards. It is comprised of nine provincial school board associations representing over 400 school boards and serving more than four million elementary and secondary school students.

            For information: Elizabeth Hodges, Communications & Government Relations Coordinator (613) 235-3724 ext. 23

www.cdnsba.org