When Lisa Petersen welcomed her first child, she anticipated returning to work shortly. Upon her daughter Naia reaching a few months old, the former B.C. educator accessed an online portal managed by the city of Copenhagen to secure her preferred daycare option.
Promptly, she secured a spot for Naia, receiving full-time, subsidized care from qualified educators at a facility. Petersen expressed her amazement at the seamless process, contrasting it with the challenges faced by many Canadian parents, who encounter lengthy waitlists and high daycare fees despite the government’s aim to reduce fees to $10 per day by 2026.
As of July, Alberta, Ontario, B.C., Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick had not yet achieved this objective. Morna Ballantyne, the executive director of Child Care Now, noted the absence of a universal daycare system in Canada.
While deliberating on extending the Liberal subsidy program, governments are advised to learn from international experiences. Australia’s market-based approach, akin to Canada’s, has been criticized for potentially squandering public funds and compromising care quality.
In Australia, where over 70% of daycares operate for profit, the subsidy system has faced challenges with rising fees and limited impact. The sector’s profit-focused nature has led to concerns of reduced quality and safety compromises. Efforts to address shortages and enhance worker retention have fallen short, prompting discussions on transitioning to a universal public or non-profit care model.
Denmark, in contrast, has long embraced daycare as a fundamental entitlement. The country ensures access to daycare through a range of options, including publicly operated nurseries and subsidized home-based care. With fees capped at 25% of operating costs, Denmark boasts high child-care enrollment rates and emphasizes the critical role of early childhood education in children’s development.
While Canada contemplates potential reforms, concerns persist over the dominance of for-profit providers and varying provincial subsidy systems. Advocates stress the importance of prioritizing affordable, high-quality daycare as a nation-building initiative. Despite challenges, optimism remains for the future of Canada’s daycare system.
