A child care advocate is demanding the Federal government create a comprehensive child care strategy as soon as possible.
Jody Dallaire is a long standing child care advocate and she says what we need is a policy framework with dedicated federal funds that come to the provinces and territories and to First nation governments.
“We need to build it over time to reach the internationally recognized minimum which is 1 percent of GDP for children aged 0 to 5.”
Dallaire says currently Canada has no national program, leadership or strategy as well as poor access, high fees and unequal equality.
She adds compared to other wealthy nations we have quite poor rankings.
Dallaire says the income splitting tax cut from the Federal government is a waste of $2.7 billion that could be better spent elsewhere.
“Research clearly shows investing in tax cuts doesn’t bring the biggest return on investment for the government, it is actually investing in programs, says Dallaire. “And it will actually make a bigger difference in the lives of family and children.”
Dallaire says there should be a range of programs available for families depending on their need, whether it’s full time, part time, preschool or even drop in.
“Accessing these programs shouldn’t be depending on parents work status,” says Dallaire. “They should be available because quality, when quality is actually there, is beneficial to the children as well.”
Dallaire says the Federal government needs to create a national policy framework based on the principles of universal entitlement, high quality and comprehensiveness.