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Federal Liberals pushed to create a children’s commissioner

OTTAWA – The Liberals are facing calls to deliver on a campaign pledge to create a federal children’s commissioner.

The commissioner would be a non-partisan voice to ensure government policy actually improves the lives of young people.

More than a year into their mandate, the government has shown few signs of moving forward on the promise, other than to say it continues to study the idea.

Sara Austin, the founder of the charity Children First Canada, says there is well over a decade of studies and research from other jurisdictions and the Liberals don’t need to start from scratch.

She says it’s time for the government to act on the promise it made to help the approximately 1.25-million children who live in poverty in Canada.

Austin will be in Ottawa today and tomorrow to prod the Liberals on their promise and talk about the economic hurdles Canadian children face.

Commissioners in other jurisdictions consult with children to make sure their voices are heard in policy debates, investigate complaints and co-ordinate children’s programs across multiple departments and agencies.

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