National Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) Standards for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access

Decades of underspending and the lack of a coordinated National Early Learning and Child Care System have left the Canadian childcare sector in a state of disorder. The essential role of Early Learning Educators and a lack of access to affordable quality child care became increasingly clear during the COVID-19 pandemic (BPW Canada, 2021). Families, particularly women, were profoundly impacted by the lack of childcare support, with many leaving the workforce and disrupting career advancement to care for their children. There are large gaps in data analyzing the specific challenges faced by marginalized, racialized, Indigenous, and gender-diverse women, as well as newcomers and women living with disabilities in accessing child care (Oxfam Canada, 2022).

To promote the recovery and participation of women in all their diversity in the Canadian workforce, in ensuring access to affordable universal quality child care, attention must be given to building a strong and stable childcare workforce strategy (BPW Canada, 2021). Like many challenges that the broader “care economy faces”, fair compensation and working conditions are paramount to a sustainable national childcare strategy (The Canadian Women’s Foundation et al., 2020). With the introduction of the Early Learning and Child Care Strategy and agreements from all provinces and territories, the recommendations outlined in Bill C-35 and the establishment of the National Advisory Council on Early Learning and Child Care are crucial steps toward a sustainable childcare system for all (Parliament of Canada, 2022).

BPW Canada and the IDEAS team (2023) consulted with Child Care Now Canada, Oxfam Canada, and the City of Peterborough Consolidated Municipal Service Manager, to explore collaborative action as communities begin to develop their ELCC implementation plans. To ensure that the transfer of funds and guidelines set out in the provincial agreements are fully transparent, it is recommended that the Government of Canada, relevant Ministries and the ELCC National Advisory Council (2023) include the following in their Early Learning and Child Care System oversight:

●      Ensure the voices of underrepresented women, newcomers, racialized and gender diverse groups are included in the policy development, service planning and implementation at the municipal community level. (City of Peterborough Early Learning 2019; Child Care Plan, 2024).

●      Employ Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access strategies to ensure that childcare service delivery models reflect the diverse needs of the community.