February 10, 2021

“Coherent Approach to CHILDCARE in Canada” (Pearson Report; Fernandez)

By Sharon Fernandez

The Pearson Centre commissioned this report by Senior Researcher Sharon Fernandez. The views expressed here are those of Ms Fernandez. This is published to inspire dialogue on an important Canadian public policy, and is the subject of a Pearson webinar on February 19, available on our YouTube channel. It was submitted to the federal government as part of its pre-budget consultations.
While the federal government has signed agreements with several provinces in the summer of 2021, this remains a key election issue as different solutions have been put forward.
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A COHERENT APPROACH TO CHILDCARE IN CANADA

“Early Childhood Education needs a formalized federal/provincial/territorial ministerial table responsible for meeting outcomes. An expert secretariat can support but not replace elected oversight .” – Hon. Margaret Norrie McCain, Nov. 2020

Countries with high-quality childcare such as Norway, Australia and Sweden validate the need for a strong federal presence to convene a national framework that facilitates long-term systemic effectiveness and equity.

To summarize, the key broad actions the Federal government needs to take that advocates, business and organized labour agree are essential are:

A National Framework with built in accountability
Well funded investment of $8 billion annually
Measurable improvements to quality, access and equity
Strong public infrastructure: workforce development and adequate compensation
Continue the ongoing implementation of the Indigenous early learning and child care framework agreement
Introduce and pass legislation that enshrines Canada’s commitment to give all children the right to high quality early learning and childcare as an entitlement, and implements a national program.
The Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Foundation has played a cutting edge role in championing this first ‘tier’ education program of ELCC for All through decades of advocacy, research and measuring accountability.

Over the last 20 years since the Honourable Margaret McCain and Dr. Fraser Mustard released the first Early Years Study in 1999, Early Years Studies 1, 2, and 3 have influenced far-reaching government action, including:

Enhanced parental leave, now up to 19 months
Full day kindergarten for 4 year olds in Ontario, the Northwest Territories, and Nova Scotia
Full day kindergarten for 5 year olds in British Columbia, Ontario Newfoundland and PEI
ECE through public education for 40% of 4 year olds
ECE public funding tripled across Canada

Fifty years ago, the Royal Commission on the Status of Women called for governments to immediately get going on a national daycare system. Childcare has evolved since that time from a gender equality lens to include, in the 1990’s, investments in early childhood education and the developmental rights of the child.

The evident failures of a fragmented approach calls for a more complex response from all levels of government to continue to orchestrate together a coherent ELCC system. A childcare system of strongly linked relationships that is integrative and designed to evolve.

Having ‘thought together’ for 5 decades now, certainly, in 2021, Canada will finally be able to realize this inherently feminist aspiration: a universal national childcare framework that evidence shows will benefit the long-term health and well being of Canadians.

Footnotes

Margaret & Wallace McCain Family Foundation Newsletter September 21, 2020
Child Care in Canada by 2020: A Vision and a Way Forward. ChildCare2020 discussion paper, 2014
Early Child Years Study 4: Additional spending required for Canada to reach OECD average
See earlyyearsstudy.ca to summarize the impact of EYS 1, 2 & 3.
Report of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women in Canada, tabled in Parliament on December 7, 1970
FutureWork: The Role of Early Learning and Child Care in Rebuilding Canada’s Economy after COVID-19. J. Stanford 11/20

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