Here’s the PDF from my presentation to the Atkinson Centre Early Years Task Force from this morning May 9th. This is a crucial election for families who care about child care and the different policy approaches to child care funding would have VERY different effects. Presentation at OISE on Affordable for All report
Links to Child Care Press Coverage in English and French
I’m a collaborating member of a research team in Quebec called “Equipe de Recherche Qualite des Contextes Educatifs de La Petite Enfance”. Nathalie Bigras, an excellent researcher in early childhood education issues from UQAM, is the leading member of this team. Their recent newsletter contains a useful clickable list of recent press coverage and other resources
What are the real lessons to learn from Quebec child care?
I wrote this response to an opinion piece by Andrea Mrozek published by CBC News Opinion. My response didn’t get published. Here’s a flavour:
“Child care in Quebec is very affordable, and is very popular with parents. Its affordability has had dramatic positive impacts on women’s employment, family incomes, and child poverty. Reputable economists claim that these effects are so positive that funding child care affordability can completely or nearly completely pay for itself. However, as Ontario develops its child care policies, it is important to imitate Quebec’s successes and avoid Quebec’s mistakes.”
Why free preschool child care makes the most sense for Ontario families
My article in The Conversation Canada (sign up here to get this digital publication – https://theconversation.com/sign_up) argues that providing free child care for Ontario’s preschool children will avoid many of the problems Quebec had in expanding its child care system. https://theconversation.com/why-free-preschool-makes-the-most-sense-for-families-94716
Doug Ford, what is your child care plan?
The Toronto Star published my op-ed today. See more below:
What will Ontario PC leader Doug Ford do for children and families in this election? The Liberals and the NDP have set a high bar with their child care funding announcements – free preschool child care with the Liberals and fees based on income averaging $12 a day with the NDP.
Tax credits for child care?
Response to Parisa Mahboubi’s proposal of tax credits for child care
Parisa Mahboubi complains (Globe and Mail, April 11th) about Ontario’s new plan to provide free preschool child care, but I think she should be cheering instead. I agree with her that the cost of child care is a major barrier to increased labour supply, to gender equality in employment, and to children gaining positive experiences in child care.
Full Report: Affordable for All
Here is the full final report “Affordable for All: Making Licensed Child Care Affordable in Ontario” as submitted to the Ontario Ministry of Education. This report is still being translated into French, so it is possible that page numbers will change in the final version released by the Ontario Government. Those who intend to reference this report in an academic publication should refer back here in a few weeks for the absolutely final version.
Press release: More Child Care, More Choice
Providing Free Preschool Child Care for Children Aged 2.5 to Kindergarten
Press release from the Office of the Premier.
“Today Premier Kathleen Wynne announced that full-day licensed child care will become free for preschool children from the age of two-and-a-half until they are eligible to start kindergarten, beginning in 2020. Free preschool child care will save families an estimated $17,000 per child, allow parents to go back to work when they choose and help give children the best start in life.”
Continue reading “Press release: More Child Care, More Choice”
Executive Summary to Report for the Ontario Government – Affordable for All
This study seeks to answer the question “What is the best way to improve the affordability of licensed child care for infants, toddlers and preschoolers in Ontario?” It seeks to provide a comprehensive analysis of alternative funding and policy options and to recommend steps forward that can dramatically improve child care affordability for families.
Continue reading “Executive Summary to Report for the Ontario Government – Affordable for All”
Does child care in Canada improve social equality?
Recently, Prof. Bob Brym invited me to join others in exploring the issue of equality in contemporary Canadian society. The occasion was the inaugural S.D. Clark Symposium on the future of Canadian society. My topic was to assess how good a job child care is doing in Canada in improving different types of equity – gender, child and family. I’ve attached my (rather lengthy) notes for the talk. You should look for the volume based on this Symposium to be published soon by Oxford University Press. It will contain chapters from each of the authors, including my own.