- 7.8 million children ( under 20 years of age) in Canada. According to Unicef, we rank 12th out of 21 industrialized countries in child wellbeing

Poverty

- One in six living in poverty

- Rate is 20 per cent higher today than in 1989

- Rates higher among aboriginals and children of single parents.

Health

- Infant mortality down 22 per cent

- For five years, infant mortality has stalled at 5 deaths per 1,000 while rates are dropping elsewhere

- Rates of immunization have increased

- One in four is obese (5th highest level among industrialized countries)

- Diabetes and asthma rates are up

- Mental illness increasing but just one in five getting treatment

Education and Employment

- Relatively high levels of education

- Increase in girls attaining post-secondary education

Violence and abuse

- Among the highest rates of youth detention among industrialized nations

- Over-representation of aboriginal and ethnic minority children in justice system

- Stronger child protection legislation

- Among highest rates of children in care among industrialized nations

- Youngest age for serving adult sentence is 14

Toronto Star