What's New > News, articles and events > The need for child care is great
Opinion: The need for child care is great. The time to act is now.
by Yves Savoie (FSA Executive Director, Aug. 2003 - Dec. 2006)
Recently, the Speech from the Throne and the Prime Minister’s Response re-affirmed the government’s commitment to $5 billion in new spending on “a truly national system of early learning and child care,” which was first announced during the spring election.
Throughout our 90-year history, Family Service Association of Toronto has supported the development of healthy families. Early learning and child care (ELCC) promises to be the next big family support program. There is strong research and important feedback from parents that demonstrate the importance of ELCC as a foundation of lifelong learning.
I also believe that ELCC reflects a shared commitment on the part of Canadians, a commitment that is broadly by parents, governments, business, labour and the community sector.
A diverse and growing number of supporters are speaking out and I am pleased to join Charles Coffey of RBC Financial Group, Buzz Hargrove of the Canadian Auto Workers Union, and more than 90 per cent of Canadians who told pollsters that public investment in ELCC is essential to the prosperity of Canada.
As our new Minister of Social Development plans speedy action, there are some tough decisions to make:
How should child care be delivered?
What’s the best way to meet the needs of all children and families, as
a universally accessible system needs to do, while recognizing the requirements
needs of children with disabilities or special needs and children from vulnerable
families?
There are some good models both here in Canada and in Europe . The government of Quebec made an important paradigm shift when it introduced its system of planned, publicly-funded ELCC for all children, across all communities at the affordable rate of $5 per day (since increased to $7) in 1997. The policy also provided a credit to low- income families for whom the flat fee could be a barrier.
University of Toronto:
Childcare Resource and Research Unit www.childcarecanada.org
Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada www.childcareadvocacy.ca
The federal government department for Social Development - www.sdc.gc.ca.
The emerging national child care program needs to consider the best way to serve low-income children. Many agree that low-income children can be well-served within a publicly-funded universal system.
Public funding, however, doesn’t necessarily mean public delivery: currently almost 80 per cent of child care programs are operated by non-profit or local government organizations. The remainder are delivered by for-profit organizations, often small businesses. I am personally in favour of government and non-profit child care centres, as these are accountable to the public and expect community involvement through boards of directors. Research tells us that the overall quality is higher in the non-profit sector. New public funding must recognize the strength of the non-profit sector in delivering child care programs.
Who should be licensed to provide service? I suggest that a standard of quality is needed in both home-based settings and in centres. This would ensure safe, enriching and consistent environments for children.
We need to act now to ensure the minority Liberal government puts the necessary funds in to the next federal budget if the provinces are to wholeheartedly embrace this initiative.
Get involved. Let your Member of Parliament know how you think child care is a critical issue. Fax, e-mail or write a letter. If you need details on how to reach your MP, call 1-800-O Canada or visit the government’s website at www.canada.gc.ca. You may also contact Ken Dryden, the Minister of Social Development, through the Social Development Canada website www.sdc.gc.ca.
