ADVOCACY UPDATE - DECEMBER 18, 2008
Dear Colleagues:
We close the year with an important request for advocacy action. The federal government is seeking input regarding its 2009 budget. We just released a 2009 federal budget submission which describes child care services as an economic stimulus that has long-term benefits for Canada. Now, we need your help. Please share your views and priorities for the federal budget.
Especially during this critical political juncture, your voice is needed. Looking back at 2008 and forward to 2009, it is clear that we continue to reach broader audiences as we work together to
1. Expose the failure of government’s market-based approach to child care
Looking back, a 2008 poll confirms that more than three quarters of Canadians think the lack of affordable child care is a serious problem in Canada today, and more than 80% believe government has an important role to play in fixing the problem. Furthermore, UNICEF’s recent child care report card on 25 developed countries ranked Canada in last place, tied with Ireland in achieving only one out of 10 benchmarks for child care quality and access. These results prompted UNICEF Canada to recommend that the federal government abandon its market-based approach by taking “the lead in developing a coordinated approach to the establishment of measurable standards, guidelines and funding for child care, with solutions presented to the public by July 2009.”
Looking forward, in 2009 we will highlight another recent UN report that criticizes the federal government’s lack of leadership on child care, and the implications for women’s equality.
2. Highlight the threat of corporatized child care
Looking back, in 2008 visiting Professor Deb Brennan described how a market-based approach fueled the corporatization of child care in Australia. Australia’s largest corporate child care provider is now in receivership, leaving the care and education of thousands of children at risk and raising serious questions about hundreds of millions of dollars in public funding.
Looking forward, in 2009 we will share our ongoing concerns on this issue in relation to the current lobbying efforts to corporatize child care in Canada.
3. Promote the solution: universal access to quality, community-owned child care services
Looking back, in 2008 we welcomed new advocacy voices promoting a publicly-funded child care system, such as the Canadian Paediatric Society.
Looking forward, we have a small window of opportunity between now and the 2009 federal budget (scheduled for release on January 27). As mentioned above, please complete the federal government’s on-line budget submission by January 9 2009, and share this action broadly.
Thank you again for your ongoing support. We wish you a restful holiday with family and friends, and look forward to our work together in 2009!
Jody Dallaire, Chairperson
Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada