1985 BILL Third Session, 20th Legislature, 34 Elizabeth II THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ALBERTA BILL 247 CHILDREN'S RIGHTS ACT MR. MARTIN p ff-^c .^^-v^.^i^'^'g: ^fiT \-i First Reading Second Reading Committee of the Whole Third Reading Royal Assent Bid Mr. Martin BILL 247 1985 CHILDREN'S RIGHTS ACT (Assented to , 1985) Children's rights HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, enacts as follows: 1 In this Act, (a) "child" means an individual under the age of 18 years; (b) "parent" means the parent or guardian of a child. 2 Every child has: (

a) the right to food, clothing and housing in order to ensure good health and personal development; (

b) the right to an environment free from physical abuse, exploitation and degrading treatment; (

c) the right to health care necessary to promote physical and mental health and to remedy illness; (

d) the right to reside with parents and siblings except where it is in the best interests of the child and family members for the child to reside elsewhere; (

e) the right to parental and adult support, guidance and continuity in the child's life; (

f) the right to an education that ensures every child the opportunity to reach and exercise his full potential; (

g) the right to play and recreation; (

h) the right to be consulted in decisions related to guard­ ianship, custody and a determination of status; (

i) the right to independent adult counselling and legal assistance in relation to all decisions affecting guardianship, custody or a determination of status; (

j) the right to a competent interpreter where language or other communication disability is a barrier in relation to any decision affecting guardianship, custody or a determination of status; (

k) the right to an explanation of all decisions affecting guardianship, custody or a determination of status; and (1) the right to be informed of the rights of children and to have them applied and enforced. Offences and Evcry pcrsou who, without lawful authority, deprives or '^"'"^' denies any child of any right enumerated in

section is guilty of an offence and liable on

summary conviction to a fine of up to $10 and to imprisonment for not more than 2 years or to both fine and imprisonment. Right to bring 4 ^ Q^^Y^ Qj. Yiis legal representative may commence an action by statement of claim in the Court of Queen's Bench against any person who, without lawful authority, denies or removes from the child any of the rights enumerated in

section and the court may award damages or make any order it deems fit or both. Binds Crown The Crown is bound by this Act. In accordance with section 4(1) of the

Interpretation Act, this Bill comes into force on the date d receives Royal Assent. Title: 1985 (20th, 3rd) Bill 247, Children's Rights Act