Childcare
Up until the last few elections, childcare has been a relatively minor issue, however in the last two elections it has been a major national issue. While the role of providing childcare falls under provincial jurisdiction, the federal government can help finance it and attach whatever strings it wants. The Liberal Plan is for a national childcare program, which would cost $5 billion over five years. This was done by signing agreements with all provinces, but providing flexibility to each province to meet their unique demands. The Tory plan is a $1,200 cheque to all parents with children under 6, which has been by its supporters called a truly universal plan, while by its critics called nothing more than a tax cut since this works out to $3/a day, well short of the amount needed to cover the cost of childcare or have one parent stay at home. Quebec has already implemented its own childcare program that costs $7 a day, but it still has long line-ups and lacks spaces. Other countries, especially in Europe have early learning and childcare programs, however they have been expensive and depending on who one asks, their success rates have been mixed. Here in Canada, a truly national universal childcare program would cost around $10 billion a year, meaning it would pretty much eat up all of our surplus. If our economy slows down, we would go into deficit unless spending was cut elsewhere or taxes were raised. If we are going to debate whether we should have a national childcare program or not, we should at least know the true costs.
I believe a truly national childcare program is not the most efficient use of taxpayer's dollars. Before creating new social programs, we should try and fix the ones we already have. In addition I don't believe that families making $100,000 a year should be having their day care subsidized or have monthly $100 cheques sent out to them. They can pay for their own childcare. Unlike health care where one doesn't choose to be sick or education where the benefits in a more productive society clearly outweigh its costs, childcare is different since one can choose to have a child or not. While there have been numerous studies on its benefits, these cannot be taken in isolation. All external factors must also be considered. The only way to truly see whether it creates benefits or not is to take ten 3 year olds and put them into childcare and take another ten 3 year olds and have them stay at home with their parents. In 20 years time, see how many from each group went to university and what type of careers they had. Off course I like most Canadians am not interested in studying the issue for another 20 years.
My solution is that any funding by the federal government for childcare spaces should be done under only two circumstances
1. Early learning: If the childcare society is not just babysitting, but actually providing early learning, I think it is reasonable for the government to pay a portion of the cost just as they do for post secondary education.
2. Assisting Low-Income families: Families that cannot afford childcare and/or to have one parent stay at home should receive government assistance. This should come in an expanded form of the national child tax benefit as Jean Chretien introduced. I also like Stephane Dion's idea of instead of cutting the GST one percent, use that to help poor families. This will ensure they do have the funds to actually pay for childcare if they so choose, which the Tory plan doesn't, but at the same time still grant choice to parents. It also is affordable unlike a truly national childcare program.
Since childcare falls under provincial jurisdiction, provinces like all social programs under their jurisdiction can always forgo the money, however I do believe the federal government has the right to ensure all transfers for childcare are used only for childcare, however I don't support the NDP idea of mandating they must be for public unionized non-profit centres. I think if a province wishes to fund stay at home nannies, for profit centres, or any other form of childcare, should be allowed to do so as the Liberal plan did in some provinces.
My next topic will be on federalism and the role of provincial vs. federal governments.
I believe a truly national childcare program is not the most efficient use of taxpayer's dollars. Before creating new social programs, we should try and fix the ones we already have. In addition I don't believe that families making $100,000 a year should be having their day care subsidized or have monthly $100 cheques sent out to them. They can pay for their own childcare. Unlike health care where one doesn't choose to be sick or education where the benefits in a more productive society clearly outweigh its costs, childcare is different since one can choose to have a child or not. While there have been numerous studies on its benefits, these cannot be taken in isolation. All external factors must also be considered. The only way to truly see whether it creates benefits or not is to take ten 3 year olds and put them into childcare and take another ten 3 year olds and have them stay at home with their parents. In 20 years time, see how many from each group went to university and what type of careers they had. Off course I like most Canadians am not interested in studying the issue for another 20 years.
My solution is that any funding by the federal government for childcare spaces should be done under only two circumstances
1. Early learning: If the childcare society is not just babysitting, but actually providing early learning, I think it is reasonable for the government to pay a portion of the cost just as they do for post secondary education.
2. Assisting Low-Income families: Families that cannot afford childcare and/or to have one parent stay at home should receive government assistance. This should come in an expanded form of the national child tax benefit as Jean Chretien introduced. I also like Stephane Dion's idea of instead of cutting the GST one percent, use that to help poor families. This will ensure they do have the funds to actually pay for childcare if they so choose, which the Tory plan doesn't, but at the same time still grant choice to parents. It also is affordable unlike a truly national childcare program.
Since childcare falls under provincial jurisdiction, provinces like all social programs under their jurisdiction can always forgo the money, however I do believe the federal government has the right to ensure all transfers for childcare are used only for childcare, however I don't support the NDP idea of mandating they must be for public unionized non-profit centres. I think if a province wishes to fund stay at home nannies, for profit centres, or any other form of childcare, should be allowed to do so as the Liberal plan did in some provinces.
My next topic will be on federalism and the role of provincial vs. federal governments.
posted by Monkey Loves to Fight | 3:41 PM
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