From Well-being — Canadians can’t complain: Better Life Index
Renata D’Aliesio, Globe and Mail

All in all, Canadians are a pretty comfortable and happy lot.

The country ranks at or near the top in many of 11 well-being indicators in a new quality of life index, unveiled Tuesday by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Only Australia topped Canada.

“Overall, I think Canada seems to be a pretty good place to be,” said Matthias Rumpf, an OECD spokesman in Washington. “But,” he cautioned, “it shouldn’t make them complacent about everything.”

…. The OECD’s comparison of 34 member countries shows Canada has one of the best education systems in the world and employment remains relatively high, even amid a lingering economic downturn.

Child care

Finding affordable and good quality child care is a challenge for parents across Canada, the OECD notes. Roughly 40 per cent of children under the age of six are enrolled in formal care programs, lagging behind the international economic organization’s standards. Single parents are particularly vulnerable. Their child-care costs are among the highest in the OECD.

“I think we really are off the mark when it comes to understanding the importance of child care to economic stability and economic growth in Canada,” said Paulette Senior, YWCA Canada’s chief executive. “We need to take it as seriously as we take education, as we take health care.” ….