This is what your member support can do — mobilize, advocate, advance.
On November 30, 2020 Minister Chrystia Freeland presented Canada’s federal fall economic update for ELCC, and spoke decisively in the House of Commons about expanding funding to build a national child care system — something the CCCF and our child care sector have advocated for since 1970.
This huge step forward took 50 years of work and thanks to members like you — this is what your member support to CCCF achieves for women, children, our child care sector, all Canadians!
Quoted right out of the CBC article are the words we’ve been preaching. “affordable, accessible, inclusive and high-quality child care from coast to coast to coast.”
Chrystia Freeland’s Economic update Speech:
“December 7, 2020, will mark the 50th Anniversary of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women in Canada, a landmark report that called on the federal government to immediately begin working with the provinces and territories to establish a national daycare system…………On the eve of this anniversary, the federal government is committed to historic investments that will make this promise a reality. Budget 2021 will outline a plan to provide affordable, accessible and high-quality child care from ocean, to ocean to ocean.”
And quoted from CBC News we heard the words we’ve been preaching:
The finance minister said the next federal budget — expected sometime in spring 2021 — will present a more concrete plan on how Ottawa will provide “affordable, accessible, inclusive and high-quality child care from coast to coast to coast.” The federal government is committing $20 million now to begin the work of crafting its new “child care vision.”
A promising commitment, but to be sure, there is much more to do to make this long held goal a reality. It must focus on Canada’s ELCC workforce (as well as children, women and families). It must be high quality. It must have the resources and support required to build a system—not band-aids. And with our growing membership at CCCF, we are up to the task! Together Strong!
The CCCF issued the following press release in response to Minister Freeland’s speech in the House of Commons, applauding the vision, but knowing that collectively, we need to turn words into actions.
Economic Update Expands Investment for Child Care in Canada, Creates National Child Care Secretariat and Workforce Investment
NOVEMBER 30, 2020
OTTAWA—Today’s federal economic update announced by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland to create a federal child care secretariat along with an investment in the development of Canada’s Early Learning and Child Care workforce is a cornerstone to establishing a Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care system and a major step in expanding fiscal support for child care services — a key commitment in the September 2020 Speech from the Throne.
In the September Throne Speech, Canada’s federal government underscored that access to high quality child care is an essential pillar of Canada’s economic restart and recovery. Today, the federal government confirmed their commitment—one that the Canadian Child Care Federation sees as essential and critical in support and action for women, children, families and Canada’s early learning and child care workforce— with over 250,000 women.
With the Secretariat and funding for the ELCC workforce, Canada’s government will be taking a stronger role in actively supporting child care, both financially and via evidence-based policy. This investment expansion and policy direction is further supported by business, labour and Canada’s child care sector. It builds equity in the access of quality services for all Canadian families and will break down a major barrier for women participating in the workforce or returning to work. Ultimately these new measures will rebuild and drive a more modern and competitive economy.
“The federal government is listening to women, parents, child care organizations, the business community and researchers to move forward with a plan to set a foundation for child care that will equip Canadians to rebuild our economy and make a stronger Canada,” said CCCF CEO Don Giesbrecht. “We will continue to work with Canada’s federal government in advising the new secretariat in developing national child care policy to deliver the highest quality child care and vision for Canada’s early learning and childcare workforce.”
Media Contact
Don Giesbrecht CEO/PDG
Canadian Child Care Federation/Fédération canadienne des services de garde à l’enfance
