Without a national policy on child care, Canada’s economy will suffer, says a new report of YWCA Canada, which will be published as part of International Women’s day.
The paper shows that many women are unable to fully integrate to the labor market due to a lack of child care accessible and affordable costs.
The CEO of the organization, Paulette Senior, argues that the current system ignores the progress made by women over the past 30 years, especially in the field of education and the labor market.
The federal government “still acts as if women were at home, rather than providing support to those who combine the roles of worker and mother, Ms. Senior said Sunday.
“Unless Ottawa takes action immediately, this gap will affect the prosperity of the Canadian economy,” she argued.
Census data underscore that the female workforce is 60 percent of university graduates – compared to 32 percent in 1971 – and nearly half the workforce.
Statistics Canada figures for 2009 showed that 64.4 percent of women with infants were employed. In 1976, about 27 percent of these women were employed.
Childcare programs are managed by the provinces, and differ from one place to another.
Ottawa, however, offers benefits and tax credits to parents.
Parents with a child under six years can receive $ 100 per month under the provision of universal childcare. They can also claim a tax credit of $ 315 for each child under 18.
According to data from the federal Department of Human Resources and Skills Development, Ottawa should transfer $ 1.167 billion to the provinces and territories to support the development of young children and child care during the year 2010 -2011.
For the year 2013-2014, this amount will increase to $ 1.3 billion.
Canadian child care will remain an inadequate mess without the establishment of a national policy on the matter, according to the report by YWCA Canada.