3
10
9098
-
https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/66c550e530450fa206fd8446abfca861.pdf
745a6cc7f7bb4d268ede8fbd9d8b82a1
PDF Text
Text
.
Northvvestern Ontario Day Care
Nevvs
December 185
NWO DAY CARE NEWS is a forum for the
sharing of information between day
care groups throughout Northwestern
Ontario, as wel I as providing
information about what's happening
on the federal and provincial scenes
- both in terms of governmental
pol icy/legislation and with advocacy
groups' activities.
We hope that this newsletter wil I
combat some of the isolation that
day care workers and advocat'es fee I
and that through sharing resources,
ideas and action plans we can
develop strategies to ensure the
growth and strengthening of qua I ity
day care in our region.
We wi I I welcome submissions to this
newsletter from every day care
committee/centre throughout NWO.
Please send articles, newscl ippings,
letters, etc. to Box 144, Thunder
Bay, Ontario P7C 4V5.
From these visits, the need for a
strong, regional organization has been
expressed by many people. The networks
that are evolving need continued work
and the strategies of collective action
must be matured .. Therefore, we are
applying for funds for a second phase
of the project (from January to June
1986) through which we plan to conduct
a comprehensive survey of day care in
Northwestern Ontario (requested by
several communities) and organize a
forum or forums in the spring to bring
together day care parents, workers,
local decision makers and interested
citizens.
In the second phase, our project worker
wi I I also travel to other communities
not previously visited. Please let us
know if you would I ike her to visit
your community.
"TIME FOR CHANGE" - ONTARIO COALITION
FOR BETTER DAY CARE, CONFERENCE AND
LOBBY, OCTOBER 26-28
REGIONAL DAY CARE PROJECT
During the past five months, the
Regional Day Care Committee has,
through a Secretary of State grant,
carried out a project to analyze the
situation of day care in NWO; to
initiate a regional network of al I
persons concerned with day care; to
provide information from provincial
and national day care organizations
to NWO Groups; and to put forward a
NWO perspective to governments and to
provincial/national day care advocacy
associations.
Our part-time project worker has
travel led to Kenora, Fort Frances,
Ati kokan, Geraldton and Terrace Bay
meeting with day care parents,
workers and other interested citizens
encouraging the development of active
parent~' groups, and learning local
issues and needs.
There were three representatives from
Thunder Bay among the 200 in attendance
at the annual conference of the Ontario
Coalition for Better Day Care. The
theme of the conference - "Time for
Change" - was appropriate on two fronts.
The Coal it ion was reorganized and
expanded to incorporate local coalitions
and individuals, as wel I as provincial
organizations. A Counci I made up of
representatives from various provincial
organizations, local groups and
individuals wi I I meet three times each
year, and an Executive elected from the
Counci I wi I I meet a minimum of 10 times
per year. Holly Rupert from Red Lake
was elected as one of the four individual
representatives, and the Thunder Bay .
Advocates for Qua I ity Chi Id Care wi 11 be
represented on the Coal it ion Counci I as
wel I. The first meeting of the Counci I
wi I I be he Id January 25th in Toronto.
�In I ight of the new provincial government and our hopes for new directions,
"Time for Change" was indeed an
appropriate theme for the lobby which
fol lowed the conference.
The mood in the room throughout the
three hour lobby was one of excitement
and anticipation. Although the Superior
Room at Queen's Park was fi I led to
capacity (reportedly 300 people), the
lobby was highly organized and profess i ona I. In fact, Bob Rae congratu I ated
the Coalition for putting on "one of
the best organized lobbies he had
ever been at".
Three Tories were in attendance forthe
ful I hour al lotted to them. Although
Phi I Gi I I ies (Brantford) attempted to
articulate Tory pol icy in response to
our questions, he did so with difficulty
and embarrassment (his two col leagues
were conspicuously silent).
The eleven NOP members in attendance
expressed agreement with the Coal it ion
throughout questioning and agreed that
day care should receive greater
emphasis.
·The last but most eagerly anticipated
caucus - the Liberals - had twenty
members in attendance, inc I ud i ng John
Sweeney, Minister of Community and
Social Services, and Ian Scott,
Attorney General and Minister
Responsible for Women's Issues.
Sweeney reiterated at the outset his
government's commitment to day care,
assuring those present that day care
is a high priority for the Peterson
g?vernment. While acknowledging the
problems that exist, little else was
offered. Sweeney expressed concern
that if they tried to renegotiate
Canada Assistance Plan (CAP) financing
for day care, the provincial government
might have to renegotiate al I financing
under the plan, including welfare. (CAP
is the only federal-provincial program
that is st i I I open-ended - that is, the
federal government's contribution to it
is I imited only by the amount the
prov i nee spends.)
The pol icy to withdraw the indirect
subsidy is a result of CAP (welfare)
funding for day care. Sweeney stated
that withdrawal of the indirect subsidy
wi I I take effect at the end of 1986,
rather than 1985, as previously planned.
When questioned about the possible
closure of day care centres due to this
pol icy, Sweeney indicated that he would
deal with each situation on an individual
basis.
While the politicians were impressed by
the lobby, it was evident that we must
keep up the pressure on a I I fronts.
Back to the Conference! Saturday was
spent in large part at a series of
informative workshops. One workshop,
"Alternative Federal Funding Mechanisms",
looked at the present system of funding
and the alternative proposed by the
Canadian Day Care Advocacy Association
(copies avai I able from CDCAA, 323 Chapel
Street, Ottawa K1N 7Z2). This proposal
integrates principles, services and the
role each level of government would play
regarding funding, and would be extremely
valuable to anyone preparing a submission
on ch i Id ca re.
Another related workshop, "Task Force
Update" was orig i na I I y to have focused on
the findings of the Day Care Task Force
chaired by Dr. Katie Cooke and set up
under the former Liberal government.
However, as the final report was not yet
avai Iable, the focus shifted to preparations for the next Task Force on Chi Id
Care. It was emphasized that we should
be ready for it when it came. We were
encouraged to lobby to have hearings
scheduled in more than one city in each
province and, if unable to attend the
hearings, to make written submissions
both as groups and individuals. (Given
that the establishment of the Par I iamentary Task Force on Child Care was
forma I I y announced a month after the
conference, this workshop was extremely
helpful.)
Those of us attending the conference and
lobby came away energized and eager to
continue our efforts to attain better
day care.
�INDIRECT SUBSIDY
For NWO children to be provided qua I ity
day care in 1986, the fees charged to
parents must be affordable. Of course,
day care must become a universal service
but being realistic we know this is a
long-term goal. Right now, we must
ensure that we do not lose the day care
centres we presently have in NWO. This
means that the provincial government
must be persuaded to continue the
"indirect subsidy" to municipal day
care and/or provide a direct grant
to al I non-profit day care centres.
In the past several years, because of
the provincial directive regarding
the elimination of indirect subsidy,
day care fees in NWO have increased
annually (or more often). And every
time an increase occurs, a number of
fami I ies find that they have to withdraw their children. The fees are
just too high. In fact, because of
the high fees, there are a number of
NWO day care centres that today have
unfi I led spaces! And many children
who need day care are not served, but
rather are placed in less expensive,
unsupervised, unregulated arrangements,
Because of short-sighted funding
policies, young children are being
denied the benefits of a qua I ity day
care program.
Unless provincial policies change, this
situation wi I I only worsen. The current
fees charged in NWO centres range from
$13-18. Without the indirect subsidy
the fees wi I I jump to $25-35 per day.
Up to 75% of the municipal and nonprofit day care centres in NWO could
be forced to close.
Individually and collectively, NWO
day care advocates have been raising
the issue of indirect subsidy/direct
grant with provincial politicians.
This issue was an important feature of
the Coal it ion lobby of al I provincial
politicians. Members of the NWO
Regional Day Care Committee have
discussed this issue with the Hon.
John Sweeney, Minister of Community
and Social Services, and with the Hon.
Ian Scott, Minister Responsible for
Women's Issues. Thunder Bay Advocates
for Qua I ity Chi Id Care have met with
Jim Foulds, MPP - Port Arthur, and
Marathon Day Care has communicated with
Gi Iles Pouliot, MPP - Lake Nipigon. We
al I must continue to impress on our
political representatives the urgency
of providing qua I ity, affordable day care.
The effect of our lobbies has had only
I imited results. At the Coal it ion lobby,
the Hon. John Sweeney announced that the
provincial pol icy re the elimination of
indirect subsidy was postponed unti I
December 31, 1986.
PARLI.A.MENTARY TASK FORCE
The federal government has just announced
the establishment of the Par I iamentary
Task Force on Chi Id Care. This Task
Force is extremely important in that its
work wil I point the direction for day
care pol icy for the years ahead. In a
sense, this Task Force is our last chance
to influence the development of adequate
day care pol icy.
The Task Force intends to hold public
consultations and we have written urging
the Task Force to hold pub I ic hearings
in Northwestern Ontario, and to provide
travel subsidies for district travel to
these hearings. We' 11 keep you posted.
It is vital that submissions from
individuals, as wel I as groups, be made.
If you are concerned about the future of
day care, please plan to make a statement
to the Task Force (and please let us know
of your wi I I i ngness to make a presentation).
We have sent a package of resource
materJal - background information,
recommendations for federal action,
Task Force terms of reference - to al I
the day care centres in NWO. Contact
the supervisor of the day care centre
in your community for more information
or write us at Box 144, Thunder Bay.
OVER 50% OF MOTHERS WITH CHILDREN UNDER 5
ARE IN THE PAID LABOUR FORCE. YET THERE
IS A CHILDCARE SPACE FOR LESS THAN 1 IN
10 CHILDREN NEEDING ONE.
�POST CARD CAMPAIGN
The Sioux Lookout Parents Group are
organizing a "Post Card Campaign"
and are seeking the support of other
day care centres and advocacy groups
in making fhe campaign effective.
The post card (the exact wording of
which is st i I I to be f i na I i zed)
would indicate support for
provincially-funded day care and
be signed by parents and other
concerned citizens and sent to MPPs.
If the politicians receive many
post cards, an impact w i I I be made.
Plan now to support this important
project. Let the Sioux Lookout
Parents Group know how many post
cards you wi I I need, and whether
or not you can share the cost of
printing them. For more information,
contact Janet Wilkinson, Sioux
Lookout Parents Group, c/o Norah
Love Children's Centre, Box 177,
Sioux Lookout, Ontario.
THE SCHOOL HOUSE PLAY CARE CENTRE
OF LAKEHEAD
The School House Play Centre opened
its doors on September 3, 1985. Our
centre is unique in that it is the
first workplace day care centre in
the Thunder Bay area. Although it
was established to accommodate
chi Idren of Lakehead Board of
Education employees, space is also
available for other children in the
community.
Our priority is qua I ity day care.
The home-I ike atmosphere of the
centre provides a welcoming
environment to both children and
adults, in which the individual
chi Id's needs are met through a
wide range of creative, stimulating
and nurturing activities and
programs. It is important to us
that parents know their children
are being we I I-cared for by
qua I ified staff who truly enjoy
working with the children.
We hope that our centre is only the
first of many workplace day care
centres in Thunder Bay. Although
enrollment continues to increase,
spaces are sti II avai Iable.
For further information, please feel
free to contact Ke I I y Job I in at
344-8719.
DAYCARE UPDATE:
RED LAKE
The Women's Information Group, an ad
hoc group in Red Lake conc~rned with
the broad spectrum of issues affecting
women, targeted day care as one of the
issues needing a higher profile during
the November municipal election.
The group produced a pamphlet, ~ith
assistance from Secretary of State,
which explained the funding crisis
affecting day care services in our
community. The pamphlets were
distributed at two al I-candidates'
meetings, at which specific questions
about day care were put to the
candidates.
Before election day, Jennifer McKibbon,
a candidate supportive of day care, and
myself met with the workers at the Red
Lake Day Care Centre. The workers have
concerns about their ch ron i ca I I y Iow
wages and a pay scale which does not
fairly reflect employees' years of
service at the centre.
The workers are encouraged to know
that as a member-at large of the
Ontario Coal it ion for Better Day Care
Counc i I I can take their concerns
beyond the community to a supportive
organization committed to improved
child care services.
In the new year, I plan to meet with
the director of the Balmertown Day
Care Centre.
- Ho I I y Rupert
CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE INCLUDE
Ruth We I Is, Margaret Phi I I i ps, Ke I I y
J ob I i n , J a net Wi I k i nson , Ho I I y Ru pert
and Fiona Karlstedt.
We hope you wi 11 consider contributing
to the next issue.
Day Care in the News:
Red Lake, Dryden, Terrace B a y - - - - - ~
�THE TIMES-NEWS,
Tuesday. July 30, 1985
Daycare - a definite need
By~~~
TERRACE BAY- Day
care In Ten-ON Bay. •
~~~
....:..i-;ely ~
~ Mafda,Y has ~111d•
Project Mayday con-
ducted•
•f toO
,nkllnlaollbeCQlllfflWII•
t=:.
~:-~::
~£en:!..~.. TIie majority eonc1.IJ,elr children would
...,.,11 rrom some type of
:=.:I=~
ro,
chlldral. belon and
pA!t·llllle
daycare ~ full-tlmt
oiler ICboal.
=-r~..r ~
Ille)' bad ID Immediate
_,i o1 tu11-ume c1aycare.
WedllldaY, July 17; •
meetlnl of tateretted
parents wu held to
4iaCUSI 1111 ....ita of Ille
WUCommit•
carried
oul IUImonth.
tees were formed to in-
~=·
I'/:
:!'::.:="of
dlnl for daycare.
Day~care concerns
v~ihceg_.AV(~t "2~.f:..!.in_g
w,.t town council
Uncertainty continues 'to be 1985 user fee portion increase in
the caldi-word for the future. of. the daily fee from $10.50 to $15
the Dryden Day.Care Centre, per day and stat.es, "it appears
with pending financial losses 'likely that further increaaea will
cauaing continued concern.
follow in 1986."
At a special day-care infonnaIn 1984, Dryden consumers
tion meeting in the Dryden paid $10.50 a day, with the remunicipal office SepL 23, 15 in- maining $14 CXIYel'ed 50 per cent
tereated ciiliens heard Dryden by the federal government, 30
Mayor Tommy Jones aay that .per cent by .the proviru:e and 20
although counciJ will continue • per cent by tha municipality.
malting representations to the
This year, the per diem cost is
Minister of Community and &. $22.80, with the maximum user
cial Services in an endeavor to fee effective SepL 1, 1985 at $15.
keep day-care centres from cl0&: The shortfall of $7.80 is covered
ing, the Town of Dryden may in- as follows: $6.24 by the province
aeaae its daily day-care rates in and $1.56 by the municipality.
the 1986 bw:lgeL
~ t a who are fully subsiMayor Jones also said the
, the rate is $1 per day, with
town would review its current the ·remaining 80-20 split cosubsidy eligibility criteria.
ven,d by the province and muniln January of this year, the cipality respectively.
federal government announced it
Children from the unorga~ atop ita day<are subsidy 'F:ed. ~~es who~ deemed
startmg ·Jan.'!t:J.986, 'Mayor ubemgm need are·lt>O]lerc:eat.
Jones eaid he recently learned funded by the province; and if not
that date bas been 'changed to in need, the same 80-20 split ap,
SepL 1, 1986. In response to the plies.
federal cutbacks, the province in•
Of the average of 32 children
tends to only fund those day-care currently using the centre, 12 to
clienta who qualify for full or par- 15 are non-residents.
tia1 subsidies through a special
Mayor Jones eaid, "We believe
n-18 tesL
day care is an asset to the Town
Diane Conway, program 8\1• of _Dryden and the users . . . if
pervisor with the miniatry in we could increase the numbers in
Kenon., told parents at the meet,. day care, we could then decrease
ing that t.be Liberal government the per diem rate." •
is proceeding as originally planHe said there ~ no~ ellO\lgh
ned with the eubsidy. cuts. She chitdren in need at the Dryden
eaid she is trying to help centres centreandeaidtheneedaeligibil•
find methoda of lowering the per ity criteria would be looked into
diem rate. for parents to .avoid after Mr. Green .suggested-a reany future closwea.
view.
"TheminisuyhaamadeacomMa. Conway eaid if occupancy
mitment to ensure no .day-care waa incniased to 90pei: cent, the
centres close as a result of the per diem rate could be reduced.
policy," aha aaid, adding mllllt The miniaby ia trying to.achieve
middleclaaa parents with two aratenearS18forevsyday-care
children would .qualify' for IOIR8 eiinb'e in the diatriet_
eubsidy.
Coun. Susan Welle auggest.ed
Calvin Green, a program eu- there could be room for a lot of
perviaor with the mim.try in COllt reductions in meala and
Th~Bay,aaidthefd!li~ ~ bu~ Paul Hea,n, chier
time <to&ptember ifnqt ~ ~tant. am '70 ·per-emit ae
waa allotted b y " 1 M ~ ~ $160,000~)Ciiit is ·mr
·becauseoftherecppiz.eddiflicuJ. stall; with food costs at less than
ties,
10 per cent.
A wrilten' brief dilmouted'by
Mr: Heayn also said IIOme
council at_the_meeting notes the
(c-,,,,,,.,J . . -- - - - -
"'Tbe greates& danger of
11111." said Ms. Smllll. "is
:''i:at~:.:r. the likelihood that
mlttee Mrs. Cuol
Quesne11e will dlalr tlle- daycare wlll become
lhettoized. Aller all, wby
lWld r~commtttee.
would a pareu~ who c,ould
..='1~\!.111~
who also attended the
r.~-::u~ r.ie~..r~::
informed Ille nanny Instead? Thus
IP""'P daycare wUI be 115ed only by Ille less af•
c\~~ of such ser· nuent members of our
•~Pl'sald that Ille ,oclety, such u single
meetinll-
~:::::.= 11'."7'0:
elded •
JocaUGIL ...
In spl.. ol Ille obllacles
presented by 1overn•
ment'1 tncWference, enlllusiam -•iled at Ille
meetinl,
~"!"~~
ld!:"i:::!uJ::
ing of a concert and uk·
Ing variolll commualty
and national IP""'PI for
financtaJ autstance were
toued arouad amon1
worklnl -,,.,., " ohe U.O preaent.
:;v.=i~p:;: 11.t\._
of 1h11 c,ould be
I - for• daycare alte
111
llmdlllC.-...- Ille detertanUOII
of Ille inch- llliDI existing
standards of quallly In factllllel, sucb u ,_,,.
:.'n1a"";'tc"=t
,ri;:
llalanceofllletab.
~-=u"~
~..:.i ~-~~- :.: -ydeara ID•111,LonaJac
lbree
,..,... also
service lllat Ille children
Ml. Smftll •. . - - oul
that - - ol tbll therefore Imperative
wtlhdnnl of flmdlDI.
tllecaolollllCboetvicel that"bDUI aovemmentJ
to usera hu riJm to u and individuals reall<e
much u S35 per day In 1111 Importance of making
some clllea. Thi• Is affordable daycare
beyond the rtnanclal available to au parents,
reacll of DIOOI middle and reaardless of income
low-income families. status or geographical
iseu1eec[
In September, • a>m·
mualty ineelln1 will be
lleld at which Ume Ille
committees' (lndlnp will
bit dlsc:Ussed and further
action taken.
tColUinu,d fmm ptJK~ I)
. further staff-child ratio reducoperational changes were made tion.
since July of this year in an
Fouowing a discussion of
attempt to reduce per diem rosts. severaf measures suggested by
They include only allowing chit• council and the ministry to tackle
dren two servings at lunch, cur• the day-care fundlhg problems,
tailment of staff snacking pri• Mayor Jones said, "Hopefully,
vileges, including soup lihd sand- some of the things we've talked
wiches once weekly on the menu about will have some effect."
and advising staff thilt they will
He also suggested that conhave to pay for their lwiches at
cerned residents should write to
some point in time.
the minister.
Coun. George Boisaonneault
expressed concern that, "If you • . In an interview aft.er the meethave two or three kid& the cost is ing, Ms. Corner said'" she was
pleased the government has exastronomical."
tended the date of the subsidizaCoun. Cary Case suggested tion cuts to Sept. 1, 1986 and said
that if the current· eight,.t.o-one the town definitely has to look at
staJ17child ratio for 24 to five- the ceilings on the eligibility
year-olds was reduced to 10 to· needs test. noting that none of
one, cost savings would be more the three residents tested who
substantial than through any she thought would qualify for
food-oriented measures.
subsidies met the necessary
criteria.
However, Heather Corner,
bryden day-care suj,ervisor,
Although licensed to serve 45
said, "There goes your quality children a day. the current aver•
age
1s only 32 and Ms. Covner
day care." adding that it would he
ju~t on<" ~tf'p from there to a
F-aici
t hnt
1f C'ounril again in-
creases the rates in 1986, more
clients could be lost:
She said the re-examinution of
the needs test "might make a difference" but that while she hopes
the government will revrr.;,, its
decision, "I don't r<•allv think
they will."
•
�Need for adequate day care is ·e1nphasized
Before attending a conference
sponsored by the Ontario Coalition for Beller Day Care, the major advocacy group for child care
in the province, I hadn't recoj?nized the urgency or the day care
issue.
More mothers or young
,hildren now work for a wage or
salary than stay home full-time,
and their numbers are increasing. Al the same lime, ii is
women who bear U1c primary
responsibility for the care and
upbringing or their children.
These two facts mean there is
.pressing social need ror adequate
child care when parents are not
available lo provide it.
It's not only women with
school-age children who have
entered the labor force. The participation rate or women with
children under six has increased
by 271 percent in the past 15
years. A majority of women with
children under three now have
jobs outside the home as well, according lo the Canadian Day
Care Advocacy Association
<CDCAA), a non-profit, voluntary organization based in
Ottawa.
The royal commissio~ report
by Judge Rosalie Abella, published last fall, observes U1al, "By
Canadian law both parents have
a duty to care for their children,
but by custom this responsibility
has consitenlly fallen to the
mother." Studies cited in the
report show that more than 90
percent of all day care arrangements are made by
mothers.
It is the inability to find
suitable day care which makes it
impossible for many women to
seek paid employment.
A Canadian labor force survey
Speaking of
Children
By
HOLLY IUPIII
has shown that about 121,000
working mothers had lo leave or
refuse a job in 1980 because of inadequate child care
arrangements.
To complete lhe statistical picture, approximately 2,000,000
Canadian children need some
form of child care; more than
half of those children are under
six. Yet in 1983, there were Jess
than 140,000 licensed day care
spaces in the whole country.
.
The current day care system
is, at best, a hodge podge of
municipally-run and privale
I]
-.
.
..
~
licensed centres. family di!)' care
. <homes which care for up to five
children), and informal care
arrangements.
Babysillers, relatives and lhc
neighbor down lhe street make
up the "informal" system, which
provides care for about 85 per
cent of children.
Some of these arrangments are
excellent; some are far from adequate. The concern with informal
care, according to most day care
advocates, is that it's not licensed
and therefore not well regulated;
THE REGIONAL, NOVEMBER 13, 1985
•
In
many ways
that in turn, means quality care
is difficult lo ensure.
•
Uay care services are not
distributed evenly across the
country. Parents in rural areas
nia,· not have access lo licensed
chiid care. a situation which is
compounded
by region_al
disparities. According to lhe
CUCAA, the number of spaces
per 1,000 cluldrcn under six
varies from a low of nine in Newfoundland to a high of 84 in
Manitoba.
The key limiting factor for
most families is the prohibitive
cost of day care. Typically,
parents must pay $2.000-5,000 per
year for a licensed day care
space. For children under two
years, the cost can be considerably higher, as much as
Si ,000 per year.
The current svstem of fundine
e
0\
for day care involves all levels of
government. As the most critical
and complex area of the day care
issue, I'll examine it separately
in my next column.
It is fair to say that day care is
fast becoming.a commodity for
the rich <who can afford full fees)
and a welfare service for those
with tow incomes <who are
helped by a subsidy>; it's middleclass parents who are hurt. the
most by the present day care
systems.
Day care critics cling to myth
that children belong at home with
their mother. But the reality or
middle-class Canadian Ille in the
'80s is that both &pOUSeS need to
work. If one parent of those working couples stayed home, about
half of those working couples
stayed home, about half or those
Canadian families would fall
below the poverty line.
The neglect of a comprehensive day care policy in Canada
shows that as a society, we
haven't sorted out our values
with respect to children and
parenting.
As the CDCAA told the Abella
commission, "How can we not afford to support the modern family in carrying out Its most fundamental role of all - child rearing? ... As a people, Canadians
must respond."
THE REGIONAL, DECEMBER 4, 1985
13
Quality day care more costly tha_n average family can afford
l::d. Note: This column appeared in U1e
Nov. Z'1 ls&ue of lhe
Regional, bowevrr
,everal columns of type
were in lhe wrong ord~r.
II is being rerun here for
claril,l'..
People concerned
about child care services in Canada all
agree on one point: high
quality care costs more
than most parents can
reasonably afford to
pay.
Yet most parents can-
not look to the government for financial
assistance. Under the
existing system, day
care is considered a
welfare service, which
means subsidy is only
available to those who
earn very litUe income.
Seventy-five million
in federal dollars are
spent each year on day
care through the
Canada Assistance Pian
ICAP). • '
Under the plan, the
federal government
pays 50 percent of child
care costs for families
"in need", and the province either pays the
rest or splits the rema i II de r with the
municipality. The subsidy is adjusted according to how much help
the family is judged lo
need.
The !lroblem with
CAP is that ii helps only
a small number of
families.
In Ontario, only 30
percent of children in
licensed care receive a
subsidy; the rest must
pay full fees, according
to the Ontario Coalition
for Better Daycare, a
Toronto-based· lobbying
organization.
. When CAP was introduced in 1966 to provide social assistance
and welfare services for
a selected segment of
Canadians, ii was never
intended to become the
only federal funding
scheme for child c;ire
services. Yet thal is the
situation which has
evolved.
Many families look to
the child care lax deduction of up to t2.ooo per
child allowed on federal
income tax as a means
of defraying the cost of
child care.
Although the federal
government clrectively
transfers about ~!05
million lo parents
U1rough this deduction,
about half of this benefit
goes to families with incomes of $~5.000 or
more.
Middle income
families are hurt the
most by the existing
systme. They are not
helped by CAP or the
tax exemption, runding
schemes which do
nothing to build a comprehensive day care
system in Canada.
As one veteran day
care advocate said,
. of
sPeakmg
.
Ch .Id
I re n
6'° tllo)U \ RUPERT
··IJ;,v cart' is subsidized
by 1i1r J..!ople involved
with ii. Either the
children subsidize the
ser\'icc by accepting
low quality cart', or the
parents subsidize the
service . b) accepting
low salaries."
With no government
fundmg flowing direclly
to the centres, they remain fi1iancially fragile.
If there is a drop in
enrolment one month, a
centre goes into debt, or
raises its fees, which in
turn can lead lo a further drop in enrolment.
At the same time,
under the current
system, any increase in
stair salaries can only
be rcllecled in increascd fees to parents.
Thedaycarefieldhas
become a female )Ob
ghetto wiLh chronically
low wages. In Ontario,
lhc a,·erage annual earnings for day care
worker is $13,88~. and
O\'cr GO percent leave
their work after one to
lhr~-e years, according
lo research commissioned for the federal
Task Force on Child
Care.
Advocacy groups like
the Ontario coalition
and the Canadian Day
Care Advocacy Association ICDCAA l see direct
funding as the only way
lo build a day care
system which truly
meets lhe developmental needs of children.
Direct funding would
stabilize the funds needed to de\'elop high quality programs. It would
allow children from
a c r o s s I h e
socioeconomic spectrum to have access to a
range of child care services. Access to care
would no longer by
hmiled by a family's
ability to pay or meet
financial criteria.
The CDCAA also
l>Oints out that direct
funding would allow
those who provide child
care lo earn adequate
wages.
There are concrete
lunding proposals on the
table.
•
The CDCAA has called for a federal childcare financing act to
provide federal and provincial funding for day
care on a nonrestrictive, universal
basis.
The act would include
funding lo existing
licensed spaces based
on a formula of $5 per
day to every licensed or
supervised centre or
caregiver for ever ap-
pro\'ed space.
As a short term
measure, the grant
would stabilize lhe existing day care system.
bringing us a step closer
to universal funding
without increasing fees.
As Judith Martin,
founding chairperson of
CDCAA said, "The
neglect of a comprehensive family support and
day care policy in
Canada intrudes severely on the privacy or the
family by limiting and
shaping the choices
parents can make. Why
are working families expected to deal with child
care as an individual
problem?"
More than a year
aflec its election, the
Mulroney ·government
has not de\'oted a single
new penny to day care.
But as any parent in the
system can tell you, the
day care crisis in not going to go away.
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Northwestern Ontario Day Care News, December 1985
Subject
The topic of the resource
Organizations
Description
An account of the resource
Northwestern Ontario Day Care News December 1985. Includes information about the Regional Day Care Project; Time For Change Conference, Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care; Indirect Subsidy; Parliamentary Task Force; Post Card Campaign; School House Play Care Centre of Lakehead and Red Lake Day Care Centre.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Northwestern Ontario Regional Child Care Committee
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1985-12
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Northwestern Ontario Regional Child Care Committee: under copyright.
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
PDF
Language
A language of the resource
English
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
nwodcn_85dec
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Canada - Ontario - Thunder Bay
Canada - Ontario - Red Lake
-
https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/7c7ee621930e08928ca3c3fe4acd221e.jpg
a8c9e6c5542b09b1626a5a71c5d36f6b
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society Collection
Subject
The topic of the resource
Finnish-Canadians
Life in Thunder Bay
Description
An account of the resource
Photographs collected by the Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society from a wide range of collectors, documenting Finnish immigration to and life in Thunder Bay.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Lakehead University Library
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Family group with travelling gear
Subject
The topic of the resource
People
Description
An account of the resource
Family group with travelling gear.
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Public domain
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
JPEG
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Still image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MG8,D,2,8,F,I271
-
https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/6bb06fbb22e8837881813401a6afaced.jpg
fe20b0b950204753f4c8f11f63777632
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society Collection
Subject
The topic of the resource
Finnish-Canadians
Life in Thunder Bay
Description
An account of the resource
Photographs collected by the Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society from a wide range of collectors, documenting Finnish immigration to and life in Thunder Bay.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Lakehead University Library
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Family group outdoors
Subject
The topic of the resource
People
Description
An account of the resource
Family group outdoors.
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Public domain
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
JPEG
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Still image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MG8,D,2,8,F,I270
-
https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/643f2e492e13fe67ee10ae0d9137ef11.jpg
8569ac6de0cd474e7f74251ded9ca8c6
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society Collection
Subject
The topic of the resource
Finnish-Canadians
Life in Thunder Bay
Description
An account of the resource
Photographs collected by the Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society from a wide range of collectors, documenting Finnish immigration to and life in Thunder Bay.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Lakehead University Library
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Family group at funeral
Subject
The topic of the resource
People
Description
An account of the resource
Family group at funeral.
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Public domain
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
JPEG
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Still image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MG8,D,2,8,F,I269
-
https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/983aaa85ddc1a41f849fe9fa99798483.jpg
f977bebf089ffbd200fec5a54f66e940
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society Collection
Subject
The topic of the resource
Finnish-Canadians
Life in Thunder Bay
Description
An account of the resource
Photographs collected by the Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society from a wide range of collectors, documenting Finnish immigration to and life in Thunder Bay.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Lakehead University Library
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Group outdoors
Subject
The topic of the resource
People
Description
An account of the resource
Group outdoors. Donor: Big Finn Hall.
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Public domain
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
JPEG
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Still image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MG8,D,2,8,F,I268
-
https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/0b1d2542b08b9c3b1401497bcac5ce38.jpg
ba9bf3335f8ed1390ea73889dc2f7b1c
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society Collection
Subject
The topic of the resource
Finnish-Canadians
Life in Thunder Bay
Description
An account of the resource
Photographs collected by the Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society from a wide range of collectors, documenting Finnish immigration to and life in Thunder Bay.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Lakehead University Library
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Family group with canoe
Subject
The topic of the resource
People
Description
An account of the resource
Family group with canoe. Donor: Big Finn Hall.
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Public domain
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
JPEG
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Still image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MG8,D,2,8,F,I267
-
https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/1f494195ae7feaf0d6f423e2a74d88d4.jpg
be6ad2a17af016e7c16c317310674769
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society Collection
Subject
The topic of the resource
Finnish-Canadians
Life in Thunder Bay
Description
An account of the resource
Photographs collected by the Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society from a wide range of collectors, documenting Finnish immigration to and life in Thunder Bay.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Lakehead University Library
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Family group outdoors
Subject
The topic of the resource
People
Description
An account of the resource
Family group outdoors. Donor: Big Finn Hall.
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Public domain
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
JPEG
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Still image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MG8,D,2,8,F,I266
-
https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/d86a365f6f8f2feca7a13f97e2a3577e.jpg
f90fa7fb2a31cb4390cd8f2647a6e50a
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society Collection
Subject
The topic of the resource
Finnish-Canadians
Life in Thunder Bay
Description
An account of the resource
Photographs collected by the Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society from a wide range of collectors, documenting Finnish immigration to and life in Thunder Bay.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Lakehead University Library
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Family group in front of house
Subject
The topic of the resource
People
Description
An account of the resource
Family group in front of house. Donor: Big Finn Hall.
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Public domain
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
JPEG
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Still image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MG8,D,2,8,F,I265
-
https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/a6f2cb50c34d642b474185ad8bb3de6a.jpg
a75cfd4f1e6caeec4b53a4fa73f98934
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society Collection
Subject
The topic of the resource
Finnish-Canadians
Life in Thunder Bay
Description
An account of the resource
Photographs collected by the Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society from a wide range of collectors, documenting Finnish immigration to and life in Thunder Bay.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Lakehead University Library
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Family group in yard
Subject
The topic of the resource
People
Description
An account of the resource
Family group in yard. Donor: Big Finn Hall. 2 copies.
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Public domain
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
JPEG
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Still image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MG8,D,2,8,F,I264
-
https://digitalcollections.lakeheadu.ca/files/original/e0a3505929470068cbe79637a1df059b.jpg
240bb76cee9d5b0cf0b7b03f1ba1ed2b
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society Collection
Subject
The topic of the resource
Finnish-Canadians
Life in Thunder Bay
Description
An account of the resource
Photographs collected by the Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society from a wide range of collectors, documenting Finnish immigration to and life in Thunder Bay.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Thunder Bay Finnish Canadian Historical Society
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Lakehead University Library
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Family group in front of wooden doorway
Subject
The topic of the resource
People
Description
An account of the resource
Family group in front of wooden doorway. Donor: Big Finn Hall.
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Public domain
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
JPEG
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Still image
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MG8,D,2,8,F,I263