Hearings began this week into the NDP’s proposed legislation on The Early Learning and Child Care Act (Bill C-303). A new report underscores the importance of making sure our new cross-Canada child care system is not-for-profit. The new national study An Economic Perspective on the Current and Future Role of Nonprofit Provision of Early Learning and Child Care Services In Canada, by economists and researchers from Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia, found that non-profit child care centres have the highest quality care.
They found that non-profit status contributes strongly to the quality of services. The non-profit centres were shown to have higher quality objectives than for-profit centres. Non-profit centres consistently hired better-trained staff, encourage professional development, and provide better wages and benefits. The study confirms the conclusions of researchers from Canada and around the world. The researchers found non-profits to have a ‘culture of quality…producing a quality level more the sum of its parts…the non-profit advantage’.
On May 1st, Paul Moist will be presenting to the Parliamentary Committee studying the Bill along with Shellie Bird from CUPE local 2204. Moist’s remarks in support of Bill C-303 will focus on the need for federal legislation, the importance of not-for-profit delivery, and the importance of quality with respect to good wages and working conditions for child care employees.