I’m a collaborating member of a research team in Quebec called “Equipe de Recherche Qualite des Contextes Educatifs de La Petite Enfance”. Nathalie Bigras, an excellent researcher in early childhood education issues from UQAM, is the leading member of this team. Their recent newsletter contains a useful clickable list of recent press coverage and other resources
What are the real lessons to learn from Quebec child care?
I wrote this response to an opinion piece by Andrea Mrozek published by CBC News Opinion. My response didn’t get published. Here’s a flavour:
“Child care in Quebec is very affordable, and is very popular with parents. Its affordability has had dramatic positive impacts on women’s employment, family incomes, and child poverty. Reputable economists claim that these effects are so positive that funding child care affordability can completely or nearly completely pay for itself. However, as Ontario develops its child care policies, it is important to imitate Quebec’s successes and avoid Quebec’s mistakes.”
Why free preschool child care makes the most sense for Ontario families
My article in The Conversation Canada (sign up here to get this digital publication – https://theconversation.com/sign_up) argues that providing free child care for Ontario’s preschool children will avoid many of the problems Quebec had in expanding its child care system. https://theconversation.com/why-free-preschool-makes-the-most-sense-for-families-94716
Doug Ford, what is your child care plan?
The Toronto Star published my op-ed today. See more below:
What will Ontario PC leader Doug Ford do for children and families in this election? The Liberals and the NDP have set a high bar with their child care funding announcements – free preschool child care with the Liberals and fees based on income averaging $12 a day with the NDP.
Tax credits for child care?
Response to Parisa Mahboubi’s proposal of tax credits for child care
Parisa Mahboubi complains (Globe and Mail, April 11th) about Ontario’s new plan to provide free preschool child care, but I think she should be cheering instead. I agree with her that the cost of child care is a major barrier to increased labour supply, to gender equality in employment, and to children gaining positive experiences in child care.