Report urges federal childcare program; Feds reject opposition call for social progam takeover
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A study from Canada's second largest daycare provider, the YWCA, is calling for the fed to bring back a national program and opposition MPs are backing the plan, calling on the government to take over provincial social programs.
"A national plan for quality, affordable early learning and childcare services is not a luxury, a frill or a threat to Canadian families," said Paulette Senior, CEO of YWCA Canada.
The report, released ahead of International Women's Day, came the same day the federal government rejected much of a report from opposition MPs calling for the federal takeover of provincial social programs.
The Commons human resources committee had called for a federal strategy for the creation of a national childcare system, a strategy to deal with homelessness and a basic income for Canadians with disabilities. The Constitution mandates the provinces are responsible for social services, meaning the federal government cannot run programs without provincial approval.
Andrea Mrozek, research manager for the Institute for Marriage and Family, says national daycare is actually the least popular choice with parents; they prefer if a spouse of family member be with small children.
"National daycare does not provide choice -- it actually takes it away because it is fantastically expensive," she said, adding funding would inevitably be removed from other family-friendly programs.
