Children: The Silenced Citizens

www.senate-senat.ca/rights-droits.asp

The Report itself

• April 2007• Canadian Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights• 280 pages

• “the Convention on the Rights of the Child has not been incorporated into domestic law and that there were gaps in its implementation... [and] concerns about the lack of public awareness about the Convention and children’s rights in Canada” (2005)

Importance of the report

• Its not perfect but it’s the best we got

• It almost led to action (Bill C-420)

• It is proof that Canada is aware of its failings

Failures of the Report

• It is inaccessible to children

• Where are the children?

• Even the title is problematic

Bill C-418: A Commissioner for Children

• A private members bill tabled in June 2009 by MP Marc Garneau (Lib.)

• Voted DOWN in Winter 2012

• But what about Article 4 of the UNCRC?

Bill C-261– Proposal to Lower the Voting Age to 16

• A private members bill tabled in February 2005 by MP Mark Holland (Lib.)

• Voted DOWN in 2007

• But what about Article 12 of the UNCRC and Article 3 of the Canadian Charter of Rigths and Freedoms?

Your task (game time!)

Lets re-open the debate!

41st Canadian Parliament

308 seats•161 Conservative (52%)•100 NDP (32%)•36 Liberal (12%)•4 Bloc (<1%)•2 Green (<1%)•2 Independent ( 1 former Bloc, Cons) (<1%)•1 Independent Conservative (<1%)•2 Vacant (<1%)

308 seats•163 Conservative (52%)•95 NDP (32%)•35 Liberal (12%)•7 Independent (2%)•2 Bloc (<1%)•2 Green (<1%)•2 Forces et Democratie (<1%)

Your Task for today:

•Research Bill C-261 and Bill C-418•Research your Political Party as it currently stands on key issues- what’s its mandate•Research your Political Party’s position on both of the above Bills (how did they vote?)•How would your party stand on these issues in 2014?

For Next Week

• Come prepared to debate the two Bills (parliamentary style)

• Each party will prepare an opening statement (2 mins)

• Each member of parliament will then receive 1 minute to make their points

• Each party will then be given a 2 minute window for a closing statement

Sources?

• In addition to Government documents, Parliamentary records, Party Websites, the Bills themselves, and newspaper articles, students are encouraged to relate their arguments to:– The UNCRC – Locke, Rousseau, Dewey, Marcuse– Silent Citizens

Reward

• The team that presents the best argument receives:+1 bonus on the final exam

• The team that presents the 2nd best argument receives:+0.5 bonus on the final exam

Worth playing for?