EXCERPTS
Armine Yalnizyan joins Nate to discuss the need for a stronger federal role in creating a cross-Canada quality early learning and child care system.
Armine is a labour economist and Atkinson Fellow on the Future of Work. She recently served as senior economic policy advisor to the deputy minister of employment and social development Canada, has worked with the Canadian Centre of Policy Alternatives in the past.
For background, here’s the government’s recent throne speech:
“It has been nearly 50 years since the Royal Commission on the Status of Women outlined the necessity of child care services for women’s social and economic equality. We have long understood that Canada cannot succeed if half of the population is held back. Canadians need more accessible, affordable, inclusive, and high quality childcare.”
Then, in the Fall Economic Statement, “as a first step” our government announced early investments “to lay the groundwork for a Canada-wide child care system in partnership with provinces, territories and Indigneous people” and noted that “Budget 2021 will outline a plan to provide affordable, accessible and high-quality child care.”