Newsletter for September 2009

Back to School

For many families in Canada, September means back to school. Children will begin a school year filled with new discoveries. Although this can be an exciting time for children, it can also be stressful for parents.

There are many things to think about such as purchasing school supplies, clothes, school and lunch bags among other things. All these costs can quickly add up. The Government of Canada understands this and that is why it provides support to Canadian families with children.

For example, on July 1st the Government of Canada enhanced the National Child Benefit and the Canada Child Tax Benefit and made it accessible to more families. This directly benefits low- and middle-income families. For a low-income family with two children it could mean a benefit of up to $436. These benefits can make it easier for families to complete their purchases for the new school year and even register their children for various activities after class.

The Government of Canada’s current investments in early learning and childcare are at the highest in Canadian history. Indeed, through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government is providing $5.9 billion in 2009-10 in support of early childhood development and child care through transfers to the provinces and territories, direct spending and tax measures for families.

As Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, I believe in the importance of providing support to all Canadian families with children.

To all families, I wish you a wonderful fall.

Yours sincerely,

The Hon. Diane Finley, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development

International Literacy Day

International Literacy Day was celebrated on September 8. Established in 1965 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), this day highlights the importance of literacy and adult learning. For this occasion, many activites were held across Canada to underline the importance of literacy in our country.

In Canada, we recognize that literacy and other essentials skills are important for all Canadians to participate fully in the labour market, in their families and in their communities.

In the new economy, where jobs are driven by technology and information, lifelong learning is key to ensuring that Canada continues to be productive, globally competitive and economically secure. The country’s success in the knowledge-based economy depends on the ability of its workforce to respond to new challenges and pursue lifelong learning opportunities.

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, through the National Literacy Secretariat, works with the provinces and territories, other government departments, business and labour, the voluntary sector, and non-government organizations, to increase awareness of literacy, share information, improve access to literacy programs, develop learning material, and advance research on literacy.

New Integrated Birth Registration Service

Parents of newborn in Nova Scotia may now register the birth of their child and apply for their child's Social Insurance Number (SIN) and Canada Child Benefits using only one application form. The new service which was made possible through a partnership between the Province of Nova Scotia, Service Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) was announced on August 5.

With this initiative, parents simply need to sign the Release of Information section on the new Registration of Live Birth form, providing their consent for Service Nova Scotia to send their child's birth registration information to Service Canada and the CRA. Each federal organization will process their respective applications.

Easy access to SIN for newborns makes it simpler for parents to open a Registered Education Savings Plan and then apply for benefits from the Government of Canada for their child, such as the Canada Education Savings Grant and Canada Learning Bond.

Applying early for Canada Child Benefits ensures that parents receive the credit and benefit payments to which they are entitled on time and in the right amount.

Applications for SIN and Canada Child Benefits can still be made directly to Service Canada and CRA, respectively.

For more information on the integrated birth registration and SIN application process in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Nova Scotia, visit Service Canada. For all other provinces and territories, see Service Canada’s main information page.

For more information on the integrated birth registration, and Canada Child Benefits application process in British Columbia, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, visit the Canada Revenue Agency.

Be Food Allergy Aware When Packing School Lunches

The beginning of the school year can be a very exciting time. Along with packing school supplies such as books and pencils, you'll also be packing school lunches for your children. While there are food safety tips that you should follow to avoid foodborne illness, it's also important to remember allergy awareness when you are packing lunches for school. If your children pack their own lunches, you should help them understand how to be food allergy aware.

Food allergies

As many as 1.2 million Canadians may be affected by life-threatening food allergies and these numbers are increasing, especially among children. Currently, it is estimated that six per cent of children are affected by food allergies.

Although many foods can cause allergic reactions, Canada has identified a list of priority allergens that are responsible for the majority of allergic reactions to food in our country. These allergens are peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, soy, seafood (such as fish, crustaceans and shellfish), wheat, eggs, milk and sulphites.

Allergens can cause a reaction in your respiratory system, stomach and intestines, skin or cardiovascular system. The symptoms of allergic reactions vary in type and severity, from mild skin irritations and hives to breathing difficulties and loss of consciousness. Symptoms can also develop at different rates, sometimes getting worse very quickly. The most severe reaction, called anaphylaxis, can be fatal.

Food allergies are triggered when your body's immune system mistakenly identifies a food protein to be harmful. Exposure to even the smallest amounts of allergenic protein can cause a serious allergic reaction in sensitive individuals. This is why you need to be very careful when packing school lunches for your children.

Allergens in schools

Because of the potential seriousness of allergic reactions, many schools have a policy in place to restrict students from bringing certain items in their lunches. It's very important for you to follow the school's food allergen policy closely, even if your child is not allergic. The health and safety of other students depends on all parents and students following the school's food allergen policy. Here are some tips to help you:

• If your child is allergic to a certain food, make sure the school knows about the allergy and work with them to come up with a strategy to keep your child safe. Remind your child that it is not safe to trade or share food.
• If peanut is on the school policy as a restricted food, try thinking about alternative sandwich-making ingredients. For example, try hummus or apple butter instead of peanut butter.
• Always read the labels on the food you pack in your child's lunch. Don't pack any food with ingredients that are restricted at your school. Look for warning statements on the label such as ''May Contain...''. Remember, even trace amounts can cause a severe allergic reaction.
• Visit the Health Canada Website for more information

It's Time to Immunize

As it is back to school time, do you have your child’s immunizations up-to-date? The Public Health Agency of Canada encourages all parents to ensure their child has received the full range of recommended vaccines.

Recently, the Government of Canada launched the interactive campaign It’s Time to Immunize to encourage parents to immunize their children against preventable diseases and provide them with the information needed to make an informed decision about immunizing their child. In support of this campaign, various tools were developed to increase the availability of detailed information on the risks and benefits of immunization and to answer frequently asked questions.

Parents can obtain more information on the 13 serious vaccine-preventable diseases and get their child’s provincial/territorial immunization schedule from the Public Health Agency of Canada web site It’s Time to Immunize.

Qs & As

Q: What is the Government of Canada doing to protect Canadian families against H1N1 flu virus?

A: The Government of Canada understands that families may be worried about the H1N1 flu virus situation and their children. That is why the Public Health Agency of Canada and provincial and territorial governments have joined efforts to offer accessible information and updates their new Web site fightflu.ca.

Protect Yourself and others

All strains of influenza can be dangerous; however, good infection prevention measures can help protect you and others if this virus begins to spread rapidly in Canada.

• Wash your hands often and thoroughly in warm, soapy water or use hand sanitizer
• Cough and sneeze in your arm, not your hand
• Keep common surfaces and items clean and disinfected
• Stay home if you’re sick, unless directed to seek medical care

Prevent H1N1 flu virus with frequent handwashing

Handwashing, when done correctly, is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. Good handwashing technique is easy to learn and can significantly reduce the spread of infectious diseases among both children and adults. More information on how to wash your hands.

Cover your cough and sneeze

Sneeze and cough into your elbow or sleeve or use a tissue. After wiping or blowing your nose with a tissue, throw away the tissue and wash your hands. Keep your fingers away from your eyes, nose and mouth.

Stay at home and avoid crowds when sick

If you are sick, avoid going to work and being in large crowds as you can spread influenza easily to others. You should also visit those who are sick only if necessary.

Keep common surfaces clean

Keep personal items separate if a household member is sick. Use a disinfectant to clean surfaces around a person who is sick with the influenza. Do not share personal items or drinks.

For more information, visit Public Health Agency of Canada.