Martha Friendly

Dear Hillary and Bernie: Can Canada hitch a ride on your child care coat-tails?

Child Care Canada Now — Thu, 19 May 2016 13:54:39 +0000

Like this article? rabble is reader-supported journalism. Chip in to keep stories like these coming.

As a dual citizen who dutifully votes in U.S. presidential elections, I'm bowled over by the profusion of child-care commitments, comments and analyses emanating from south of the border. Child care is quite the election issue in the U.S., taking up much more space in this election campaign than in any other I remember.

Mansbridge to Trudeau: 'It's 2016. Isn't it time for a national daycare program?'

Child Care Canada Now — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 15:24:48 +0000

Like this article? rabble is reader-supported journalism. Chip in to keep stories like these coming.

It wasn't surprising that child care was one of the topics Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was pressed about last Sunday on CBC's Face to Face with the Prime Minister.

There are millions of families in all regions -- families like that of the CBC's representative young middle-class parent Jenna Fray -- who are struggling with child care. Parents cannot find and afford good quality child care for love or money.

A national child-care system: 'Because it's 2015'

Child Care Canada Now — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 15:42:56 +0000

Like Karl Nerenberg's work? Want to expand rabble's Parliamentary Bureau? Support us on Patreon today!

The best line of the Trudeau government's first day -- widely reported and praised in the international media -- was the new PM's. In response to a reporter’s question about why he'd chosen to create a gender-parity cabinet, he rather matter of factly observed "because it's 2015."

Finally. 'Fertile ground' for a national child-care program

Child Care Canada Now — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 15:57:18 +0000

Like this article? rabble is reader-supported journalism.Chip in to keep stories like these coming.

Why giving parents cash-for-child-care isn't the answer

Child Care Canada Now — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 19:26:15 +0000

Want to see an election campaign fact-rich and spin-poor? Chip in to keep our fact check blog up to date.

Child care has become a key issue in Election 2015. To support the public interest and political debate, the Childcare Resource and Research Unit's blog, Child Care Now, will be published each week between August 12 and October 19. This is the fifth entry in the series.

Four decades later, parents still carry most of the responsibility for child care

Child Care Canada Now — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 18:24:07 +0000

Please support our coverage of democratic movements and become a supporter of rabble.ca.

'The more we get together' -- to build a national child-care program

Child Care Canada Now — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 19:16:00 +0000

Want to see an election campaign fact-rich and spin-poor? Chip in to keep our fact check blog up to date.

Canadian families need a national child-care plan this election

rabble staff — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 18:22:27 +0000

Child care has become a key issue in Election 2015. Read here why we need quality child care.

Quality child care shouldn't be just a matter of luck

Child Care Canada Now — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 20:01:54 +0000

Like this article? rabble is reader-supported journalism. Chip in to keep stories like these coming.

Canada needs a reliable, national child-care program

rabble staff — Thu, 13 Aug 2015 16:00:01 +0000

Child care is an issue this federal election. And, Canada definitely needs an affordable and reliable national child-care program.

A flexible, reliable, national child-care program would bring Canadians together

Child Care Canada Now — Wed, 12 Aug 2015 18:52:30 +0000

Please support our coverage of democratic movements and become a supporter of rabble.ca.

The real issue, then, is not whether mothers should work but rather the need to ensure that children are cared for adequately while mothers are at work.

-- Toronto Social Planning Council, 1960

How should a government really help young families?

rabble staff — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 13:14:41 +0000

After the UCCB advertising fiasco, we should have a real debate about what a modern government of Canada should do to really help young families can begin in earnest.

Pierre Poilievre, you're no Santa Claus.

Child Care Canada Now — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 19:52:27 +0000

Please support our coverage of democratic movements and become a supporter of rabble.ca.

Right-wing think tank miraculously makes child care space shortages disappear

Child Care Canada Now — Mon, 11 May 2015 20:54:21 +0000

How about that? With an exposé by one right-wing think-tank and two comment pieces in a right-wing newspaper about the exposé by the right-wing think-tank, child care space shortages as a problem for parents have been made to disappear! Parents must be rejoicing.

Had we pesky "daycare proponents" only known -- rather than harping on the problems of space shortages, high fees, inequity and uneven quality -- we might have sat at the feet of the miracle workers who managed this, applied their magic and space shortages could have been vanished just like that! Poof! Gone!

Yes, it's a classic boondoggle but surely an $8-billion expenditure deserves some evidence

Child Care Canada Now — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 14:02:46 +0000

Probably shouldn't say "we told you so" but last Tuesday a Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) report confirmed what many have said since 2006: the UCCB cheque through the mail slot isn't child care. The PBO's analysis showed that more than half the "child care benefit" money (most of which is the Universal "Child Care" Benefit) will go to families who don't spend anything on child care.

Moreover, the PBO calculated that these expenditures would reach $8 billion a year by 2017.

The PBO's most recent report book-ended a PBO analysis on income-splitting, another scheme touted as "family friendly." Income-splitting will benefit only 15 per cent of families, with the affluent making out best but will cost Canadians an additional $2.2 billion foregone taxes a year.