Highlights

National scorecard on Canada’s growth and prosperity: Measuring Canada’s progress towards smart and sustainable growth
Century Initiative, March 2021
This inaugural edition of Century Initiative's National Scorecard tracks a total of 40 measurable indicators across seven key focus areas for Canada to ‘grow well’. The Scorecard provides a broad look at the country’s successes, as well as areas that need more attention in order to achieve growth and prosperity. Canada is falling behind on child care compared to similar countries, failing to meet its targets. Significant work is needed in child care. The report notes that federal commitments to developing a national child care system and provincial-territorial collaboration will be key to moving child care forward.

CA: Finally, everyone agrees that Canada needs better child care. But what should it look like?
Toronto Star, 27 March 2021

ON: The region has a surplus. Did it need to close child-care centres?
The Record, 31 March 2021

Research, policy and practice

Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on women: Report of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women
House of Commons of Canada, March 2021
The House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women (FEWO) held hearings regarding the COVID-19 pandemic impact on women. The report features testimony from diverse witnesses and makes makes 21 recommendations regarding women’s labour force participation, child care, health, paid and unpaid care work, and interventions in trafficking and violence against women. A supplementary NDP opinion recommended that the Government of Canada implement measures that will create a national, universal, affordable child care system through substantial financial investment, working with provinces, territories, and Indigenous governments to establish a national, universal, affordable early learning child care system, enshrining ELCC commitments in law.

Parental burnout around the globe: a 42-country study
Affective Science, March 2021
In this article the authors note that high levels of stress in the parenting domain can lead to parental burnout. In this study, the authors examined the prevalence of parental burnout in 42 countries and showed that the prevalence of parental burnout varies dramatically across countries and cultures. Findings note that individualistic cultures versus collectivist cultures displayed a noticeably higher prevalence and mean level of parental burnout. The results suggest that cultural values in Western countries may put parents under heightened levels of stress.

Maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada: a longitudinal analysis
The Lancet, 24 March 2021
This article studies an existing longitudinal cohort of Canadian mothers to assess changes in the prevalence of maternal depression and anxiety as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings reveal that there were larger increases in depression and anxiety symptoms for women who had income disruptions, difficulty balancing homeschooling with work responsibilities, and those with difficulty obtaining child care. White mothers had greater increases in anxiety scores than non-white mothers and healthcare workers had smaller increases in depressive symptoms than non-healthcare workers. The authors suggest that financial support, child care provision, and avoiding the closure of schools might be key priorities for preventing future increases in maternal psychological distress.

The impact of introducing formal childcare services on labour force participation in Inuit Nunangat
Canadian Public Policy, 5 December 2019
This study examined the impact of formal child care services on labour force participation in 34 Inuit communities in northern Canada. The study found that introduction of formal child care services increased labour force participation of single-adult households but did not find obvious statistical evidence of the same effect in multi-adult households. The authors note that other research finds that child care accessibility is still a significant issue in Inuit Nunangat. They conclude that their findings suggest that increased child care accessibility may have a significant effect on labour force participation bug more still needs to be done. 

Child care in the news 

CA: 'Generation C': Why investing in early childhood is critical after COVID-19
The Conversation, 29 March 2021

CA: Canada Is reducing poverty and increasing equality, says StatsCan
The Tyee, 29 March 2021

CA: There is one way to build a Canada-wide child-care system: Fund the services
The Hamilton Spectator, 25 March 2021

NS: Families in need of childcare for children under age four left out of Nova Scotia budget
Business Wire, 30 March 2021

QC: Manque de places en garderie: «Pas un enjeu de femmes, mais un enjeu de société»
Le Devoir, 24 March 2021

ON: Emergency child care extended, not expanded
TB News Watch, 26 March 2021

ON: Ontario budget doubles child benefit, creates jobs training tax credit for 2021
Global News, 24 March 2021

ON: The region has a surplus. Did it need to close child-care centres?
The Record, 31 March 2021

MB: Jodie Kehl on Bill 47, The Early Learning and Child Care Act
Council of Canadians - Winnipeg Chapter, 30 March 2021

SK: Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan provide additional support for quality early learning and child care across the province
Cision, 24 March 2021

AB: Alberta government promises 1,500 new child-care spaces days before NDP's $25-a-day program ends
Edmonton Journal, 25 March 2021

BC: Opinion: My career is a result of access to affordable childcare
Prince George Matters, 28 March 2021

NWT: Canada extends NWT early learning and child care agreement
Cabin Radio, 26 March 2021

US: COVID shut down child care centers — and sent unemployment soaring for women
Truthout, 29 March 2021

US: Why doesn’t the U.S. value child care? A historic look
The Philadelphia Inquirer, 27 March 2021

Events