Child Care

Workers come together to organize against Harper's harmful EI changes.

Alternative Federal Budget plan tackles Canadians' real concerns.

Join the BCGEU/NUPGE www.cantaffordchildcare.ca where families can petition the government and the official opposition to commit to implementing $10 a day childcare.

"Hopefully it will be a wakeup call as well for all levels of government to ensure that public policies on issues such as child care and elder care are a priority.” - James Clancy, Natio

October 24 marks the 12th anniversary of the Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educators Appreciation Day in Ontario.

This Labour Day in 2012, NUPGE celebrates the legacy of those who came before us and we commit to continue the fight for fairness.

All Together Now! women activists to focus on public services key to achieving life/work balance.

“Students in Ontario not only face the highest tuition fees in the country, but also face a child care system that denies subsidies to part-time students" - Cindy Brownlee.

“With corporate childcare, the profit motive comes at the expense of families and workers,” said BCGEU President Darryl Walker.

“It’s money the federal government gets free.” - Pierre Fortin.

Research indicates that women remain the primary caregivers of children and the elderly among the majority of Member States of the EU.

"Post-2011 election is a good time to keep in mind our tradition of solidarity, and to build on it in new ways," - Martha Friendly, Executive Director CRRU

"Canada needs early learning and child care services, not a social policy gap that is decades behind reality." - YWCA Canada

Report recommends investing 1% of GDP to early care and learning.

Bringing together nearly 17,000 members who work in developmental services, children’s aid societies, child treatment areas, youth corrections and community agencies.

Private child care centres will not be affected but all those receiving public funding will be required to ban religious teaching as of next June.

In 2009 over 70% of women with children under the age of 16 living at home were employed.

Ranks a dismal 17th in the material well-being of children among OECD countries.

'We urge the B.C. government to take these findings seriously and act on them quickly.' - Darryl Walker.

Group urges supporters across the country to pressure the Harper government to take action on urgent parliamentary committee report.

'The employer is being stubborn and blocking a deal.' - OPSEU.

'This plan needs to go farther and set more ambitious targets with clear and transparent measures for accountability and oversight.' - Darryl Walker.

October 27th will mark the 10th annual Day of Appreciation for Child Care Workers and Early Childhood Educators in Ontario.

BCGEU also negotiates new collective agreement at St. James Daycare Society.

New regulated child care system goes into effect across the province in September.

Union represents more than 1,500 workers in over 100 child care centres across the province.

New report concludes that the health of Canadians is much less determined by the health care system than we typically think. Much more important are public policies that influence our living conditions.  

'Canada may be pulling into recovery but Ontario is not yet out of the recessionary woods.' - CCPA.

'The report shows there’s a lot more at stake than lost child care spaces.' - Andrea Calver.

Program will cost $1.5 billion when fully rolled out by 2015, says Premier Dalton McGuinty.

Oct. 21 marks the ninth annual day of appreciation for child care workers and early childhood educators in Ontario.

'Over the long term, every $1 invested in quality child care programs returns $2.54 in benefits to society.' - CCAAC.

'Government needs to step forward with a comprehensive plan to ensure that quality care and education for our young children is here now and in the future.' - Shelley Ward.

Dismal 15th ranking out of 17 developed countries. Only Japan and the United States were worse. The top-ranked countries are Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands.

'The decrease in provincial budget funding for child care is most likely a result of the Harper Conservative government’s 2006 cancellation of the bilateral agreements.'

Working with health and social development departments to come up with a plan in case centres are forced to close.

Workers at five new child care centres at University of B.C. have voted to join the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union to make their work place better.

'Child care is a critical piece of the puzzle for many Manitobans these days.' - Gord Mackintosh, family services and housing minister.

NDP again asks Parliament to pass legislation that would lay a foundation for a national child care system. 

Canada has one of the lowest child care access rates in the industrialized world and fees are among the highest.

Beware of child care property development/leaseback schemes, proposals to expand for-profit child care and pressure to reduce quality standards.

Conservative government is paying lip service to improving the lives of women even as it refuses to support pay equity, child care and economic measures that support women's equality.  So the Canadian Labour Congress is sending each Member of Parliament a gift of chocolate lips with an accompanying note - 'women are tired of lip service'.

Conservatives' plans in child care leading to shrinking number of child care spaces and they have chosen to ignore the crisis in the recent federal budget.

(Jan 27, 2009) -- 'Everyone except the prime minister seems to understand that big problems require bold solutions. Canada needs a large-scale fiscal stimulus.'

Our kids gotta come first

download PDF

Survey of child care standards in 25 developed countries

The Australian experience should teach the Harper government a lesson

Oct. 22 marks the eighth annual day of appreciation for child care workers and early childhood educators

(Oct 9, 2008) -- 'The Harper platform is a vapid document, full of slogans but lacking a substantive plan to tackle the current economic and social challenges.'

'Time to vote for the party you trust most to deliver a universal, community-based child care system.'

$1.4 billion to create 150,000 child care spaces

Check NUPGE's election leaflet and visit our election resource web page

BCGEU supporting NDP public forum May 6 in Victoria

Groundbreaking step on behalf of 160 workers in the St. Boniface area of Winnipeg

New study reveals the smallest increase in regulated child care spaces in some years

Poverty afflicts 12.6% of all Ontario children including 44% of all children in low-income families

Union releases poll information from workers on the front lines as well as public polling data showing widespread concern about lack of funding and resources

Group says 'It's Time for Public Child Care'

Send the Finance Minister your thoughts and ideas about why child care services are important for children and families and Canada’s economy.

BCGEU will continue lobbying for a better system

Victoria headquarters renovations supervised by Tom Christensen cost three times original estimates

Arrival of 123 Busy Beavers Learning Centres signals the 'Wal-Martization' of child care in Canada

Oct. 24 marks the seventh annual day of appreciation for child care workers and early childhood educators

Union demands answers from government

Shelagh Germyn trekking 260 kilometres from Campbell River to Victoria

Federal Tories admit tax incentives to create more child care spaces not working

BCGEU says resolution signals 'a significant and positive shift in consciousness' by business community

Tories now plan to give the provinces and territories $250 million with no strings attached

Finance minister has invited input from Canadians before his new budget is released on March 19

Protests across British Columbia against the Harper and Campbell governments

'Only a political decision can reverse the cuts, restore funding and build a stronger child care system.' - BCGEU

“Canada ranks lowest among developed nations on child care." - Code Blue Campaign

Minister ignores advice from own finance committee and progress board

'Bill C-303 should serve as a message to Prime Minister Harper.' - James Clancy

Situation will worsen in many areas if Conservatives kill $5 billion Liberal program

Environics survey shows 76% support for national program like the one the Harper Conservatives are now in the process of scrapping

MPs in all parties asked to support legislation after years of empty promises, false starts and setbacks

Liberal agreements with provinces will be scrapped; $100 a month payments per child under six will begin; cheques won't trigger clawback of other federal benefits.

Two out of every three voters cast ballots for other candidates and options on Jan. 23

Caledon Institute says families earning $200,000 may retain triple or more what a single Ontario parent earning $30,000 will keep after taxes and clawbacks

'A compelling reminder of all the reasons workers and their unions mobilize and struggle for equality and quality of life.'

Prime Minister dares opposition parties to defeat Conservative minority in Parliament

'Our poll shows that only 35 % of Albertans agree.' - PIA and AFL

'The Prime Minister must honour the agreements that the federal government made with the provinces.'

No hint of compromise on unpopular plan to kill $5-billion plan negotiated with the provinces by the previous government

Community task forces conclude that Harper Conservatives are out of sync with broadly held Canadian views

Main beneficiaries will be affluent, single-earner, two-parent families

Conservative government failing to listen to the wishes of most Canadian citizens

(Feb 20, 2006) -- 'In keeping the child care promise, Stephen Harper can demonstrate leadership and a mastery of statecraft that would serve him very well when he next goes to the polls. Does he have it in him?'

Survey of food banks and emergency food programs

'Affordable, responsible and fits inside a balanced budget, each and every year.'

Children and families deserve more than empty Tory promises