We keep leaving the voices of hundreds of operators out of the conversation, while significant opportunities for economic growth are left on the table.
Prioritizing public and not-for-profit providers in the childcare program was intended to ensure that public money went to delivering services, not boosting the profit margins of commercial childcare operators
The vague attacks on DEI distract from the very real ways that Canadians interact with equity-oriented federal programs that bolster opportunity and reduce barriers.
Despite its $35-billion price tag, the program is well behind in creating the promised number of 250,000 childcare spaces by March 2026.
Working families are crucial to the economy of today, and tomorrow and they need to be a serious part of the equation moving forward.
There is no reason to think a Poilievre government wouldn’t find ways to seriously weaken the country’s social programs.
Despite receiving the largest share of the promised $1-billion over five years, Ontario ranks second last in provincial spending per student on school food programs.
‘If you don’t change how the expansion is happening, it’ll continue to be for-profit spaces where it’s convenient for providers to locate them,’ says David Macdonald.
We must invest in the social infrastructure that supports essential community services that return value to the economy and to communities.
Although not banned by federal restrictions, private operators cannot properly compete in a sector now awash in public funds without equal access to funding.
Coalition for Healthy School Food’s Debbie Field now hopes ‘one or two’ provincial school food agreements will be signed before winter after missing the fall semester rollout goal.
While still light on specifics or agreements with the provinces and territories, Coalition for Healthy School Food co-ordinator Debbie Field says ‘the most important thing is they’re making the whole commitment.’
‘If the federal government wanted to do one thing quickly to address the key issue facing Canadians, which is the affordability of food, they will act on this,’ says the Coalition for Healthy School Food’s Debbie Field.
The Conservatives say excluding for-profit providers will make it impossible to grow the system to meet demand, while the NDP says it fought to include the provision prioritizing public and not-for-profit providers.
It is time the government and all Parliamentarians look to include a 15-week benefit for parents via surrogacy in this much-needed EI modernization. Because it’s 2022.
