Proceeding with 'Care': Lessons to Be Learned from the Canadian Parental Leave and Quebec Daycare Initiatives in Developing a National Childcare Policy

Abstract

During June 2004 and January 2006 federal election campaigns, Liberal Party promised creation of a universal, accessible childcare policy. Given current scarcity of affordable, quality childcare throughout country, this promise was, quite predictably, warmly received. At same time, discussions about a national childcare policy raised important questions about ensuring universality of accessible, quality care for children. Such issues have yet to be seriously deliberated in academic, public and political discussions regarding development of national childcare. This paper seeks to address questions about effectiveness of federal involvement in early child education and care through analysis of two other legislative initiatives created to support families with young children: federal parental leave benefit policy established through Employment Insurance Act, and Quebec's universal childcare program. An examination of these two initiatives reveals that each is premised on specific assumptions about the and its social, cultural and economic dynamics. Yet these assumptions fail to reflect realities of many families and, where this occurs, parents and their children are often denied state-supported benefits. Clearly, design of a national childcare policy should seek to avoid such marginalization of families. This paper thus maintains that assumptions underpinning Canada's parental leave policy and Qu?bec's daycare initiative cannot serve as premise for a national childcare program that might ultimately be created. Instead, this essay offers a new way of envisioning family relationships and responsibilities, work, and childcare, with a view to promoting development of an equitable and inclusive Canadian childcare policy.