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New study reveals the smallest increase in regulated child care spaces in some years
Toronto (11 April 2008) – A new report on child care reveals the smallest increase in regulated child care spaces in some years. Entitled Child Care Space Statistics 2007, the report was produced by the Childcare Resource and Research Unit (CRRU).
The CRRU is a policy research institute that focuses on early childhood education and care (ECEC) and family policy.
The report presents provincial and territorial data on the number and breakdown of spaces in regulated child care centres in Canada as of March 31, 2007. A summary reveals that:
- There were 837,923 regulated child care spaces in Canada in 2007
- This represents an increase of 26,661 spaces since 2006, the smallest increase in regulated child care in some years.
- Since 2006, there has been limited change in the number of regulated child care spaces in most provinces and territories. The report also indicates that expansion in Quebec has slowed sharply.
- In 2007, 83% of total regulated child care spaces for children aged 0-12 were centre-based; 57% of centre-based spaces were for children aged 0-5 while 43% were for school-aged children.
Statistics such as these highlight once again that the Conservative government’s child care spaces initiative has failed. In Canada it is estimated that fewer than 20% of 0-12 years old children are able to access regulated child care services. In fact data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) places Canada dead last in terms of public spending on early learning and child care programs as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP).
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) continues to draw attention to the fact that public investment in early learning and child care must be a social priority for Canadian families and an economic priority for Canada.
NUPGE encourages all Canadians to lobby Members of Parliament to support Bill C-303, The Early Learning and Child Care Act. This legislation calls for accessible, universal and high-quality early learning and child care programs and services. NUPGE
More information:
Child Care Space Statistics 2007 - pdf