2025/03/20 by Sophie Mathieu, Rianne Mahon · 1 voice
Health Professions · Social Sciences · #Employment and Welfare Studies #Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving #Social Policy and Reform Studies
paper · doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197766859.013.0023
openalex publication_date 2025/03/20 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/11
Abstract This chapter delves into the complexities of parental benefits and the patchwork of market-based childcare provision prevailing in Canada. Despite the dominance of the liberal model, Quebec emerged as a beacon of social democracy with initiatives like the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP), and a long-standing network of affordable childcare. In 2020, the federal government committed to establishing a Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) system, marking a significant departure from the traditional liberal model, particularly in terms of implementing low-cost fees. Perhaps the most dramatic change pertains to childcare for Indigenous children. Breaking with the racist premises of the settler state, in conjunction with other steps toward reconciliation, the new, co-developed framework represents a significant step toward the decolonization of childcare. While the new framework signals progress, challenges remain in sustaining and protecting these gains against future policy reversals. The potential for rollbacks underscores the importance of robust frameworks and ongoing advocacy to ensure equitable access to parental benefits and childcare for all Canadians.