Entitled Raising Canada the report has been released by Children First Canada and the O’Brien Institute for Public Health.

 Some highlights show the leading cause for childhood deaths in Canada are preventable accidents and injuries and suicide.  Manitoba’s infant mortality rate is 5.4 deaths per one thousand with BC the lowest at 3.5.

1.2 million children live in low income housing with Manitoba ranked third out of all provinces for the highest number of children in this housing. Regarding children 12 to 17 being overweight or obese Manitoba is the fourth healthiest province at 26.8 percent.

Today’s report is a call to action for the federal, provincial and municipal governments as well as all Canadians to do more to invest in the health and wellbeing of Canada’s children.