For the last six months, Canada's attention has been squarely focused on mitigating the many short and long term impacts of COVID-19. Nearly daily announcements by our Prime Minister or his staff saw funding packages targeting small businesses, agriculture, culture and sport, and tourism. Our country has literally spent hundreds of billions of dollars protecting Canadians. But amidst all of the policy discussions to date, one group has been left behind: our children.For those on the front line in households across Canada, pandemic parenting has proven to be a lot to handle. While children have not been the face of this pandemic, they are positioned to be amongst its most significant victims. According to new polling from Abacus Data, 70% of Canadians expect the pandemic to have long-term effects on children, and 62% feel the pandemic has negatively impacted children by increasing the inequality between families based on household income and wealth.In fact, the polling shows that 92% of Canadians think children should be a priority as governments develop their COVID-19 recovery plans, and beyond, proving that this is an issue which unites Canadians, regardless of region or political affiliation.But the truth is that Canadian children and youth were being left behind far before the arrival of COVID-19, and now things are only getting worse.Children in every region of the country are experiencing food insecurity, high rates of infant mortality and critical wait times for essential physical and mental healthcare services. The UNICEF 2020 Report Card indicates that Canada ranks 30th out of 38 countries based on measures of children's mental and physical health, education, rates of suicide, life satisfaction, child mortality, obesity, educational achievements and social skills.These are deeply troubling statistics, particularly because they describe the generation we are counting on to lead us in the years ahead.  We have a responsibility to change things for the better, and COVID-19 is proving to be the moment when we make one very critical decision: do we set our kids up for success, or do we leave them behind to fend for themselves?The time has come to finally make children a priority and position them at the centre of our vision for a stronger, healthier, bolder future for Canada.The Federal Government can signal its commitment to children by naming an independent federal Commissioner of Children and Youth who can ensure that this country's young people are part of every conversation as we continue to fight for the health and safety of our country.Canadian kids need a champion with the mandate and resources to effectively advocate on their behalf, someone whose job it is to work with governments to even the playing field for all kids, no matter what neighbourhood they call home, or how much money their parents have in the bank.The social and economic policies we are deciding today will have a direct impact on the health, well-being and prosperity of this country's children. We know we can do better, so let us work together to give our kids a seat at the table, and a voice in their future. We will all be better off because of it.Emily Gruenwoldt is president and CEO of Children's Healthcare Canada