Canada needs a national child care strategy now, advise paediatricians

OTTAWA, Dec. 1 /CNW Telbec/ - At least 70 per cent of Canadian children under six years use non-parental care. Despite the overwhelming numbers, Canada's current early childhood education and care system is a patchwork of policies and programs that creates geographical and income inequities.

Canadian children have the right to quality childhood care and education. That is why the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) is urging governments to develop a national strategy on early childhood education and care.

"Investments in quality early childhood care and education have the potential for significant returns down the road," said Dr. Danielle Grenier, the Canadian Paediatric Society's Medical Affairs Director and co-editor of Well Beings: A Guide to Health in Child Care. "Why then, does Canada rank so low when it comes to overall spending on families and children, particularly in the areas of childhood care and education services?"

In 2004, the federal government at the time committed $5 billion dollars over five years to provide access to high quality, government-regulated spaces at affordable cost to parents. Agreements between federal and provincial/territorial governments were signed. With a change of government in January 2006 came a change in policy. The new government introduced a program of a $100 per month taxable payment to families and committed $250 million in transfer payments to provinces and territories, and tax credits for businesses creating new child care spaces in the workplace. However, this program has done little to increase the availability and quality of child care services.

The recent Speech from the Throne provided no further leadership toward a national child care strategy. With current economic challenges, families will rely more than ever on child care services, Canadians need a government willing to invest in children by eliminating barriers to accessing and providing quality child care. The CPS calls on all levels of government to work collaboratively to make it happen.

"Despite the evidence of well-designed and delivered programs, the level of quality in child care settings in not always the best it can be," said Dr. Grenier. "If we expect practitioners and program planners to deliver high-quality services, our country must commit to creating a framework for delivering child care that is systematically and thoughtfully planned, delivered, monitored and evaluated."

The impact of the early years on a child's chances for success later in life is indisputable. Thanks to our understanding of the importance of early experiences on a child's development, we know the unique opportunity the early years provide. Early childhood education is an investment in the development of children and the social and public health benefits make it a sound use of tax dollars….

The Canadian Paediatric Society is a national association that advocates for the health needs of children and youth. It represents more than 2,600 paediatricians and other health professionals.