Women For Social Change
Who We Are:
A group of students atteding Centennial College currently enrolled in the Social Service Worker Program, Advocating for the implementation of Universal Daycare In Toronto that would be benifical to all parents and guardians.
Our purpose:
1.)To create awareness through this web-site and petition that
will be sent to the provincial government
2.)To gain social support through networking with other organizations.
3.)To provide a forum for parents in support of universal daycare
Our Social Movement is to create fairness and equality for women through the implementation of Universial Daycare.
History of Womens Issue
Over history Canadian women have been fighting for equal rights and freedoms; first it was for the right to vote and then it was the right to work. After that it was the right to equal benefits and pay equity (equal pay for equal work) and the struggles continue. Ultimately this lead to the up rising of the feminist movement which incorporated all the issues that women face in society that deprive them of a certain quality of life. The introduction of women in to the workforce during and after the 1st World War was a boost for the Canadian economy and kept Canada form the threat of a depression. This opened the doors to the concept of Day Care; day care was a way of keeping women in the work force while their husbands when away to fight wars. Day care was in full support by the government at this time because ultimately the Canadian economy would benefit. Today women are still in the work place and it is a very competitive one, requiring time, dedication, and full cooperation with economic technical evolutions and employer employee demands.
This sometime surfaces major question for women, which are: family and being a mother vs. carrier and financial stability. If women are seen as equals and make up 52% of the population than it is the responsibility of the Canadian government to create equal opportunities for mothers to be in the work force.
End notes: Nellie McClung 1998, web site:http://timelinks.merlin.mb.ca/referenc/db0003.htm
Childcare in Canada
In the last twenty years, the need for childcare has increased dramatically as a result of ‘an increase’in two-earner couples.(Chappell-p.239). Canada has a childcare crisis and the implementation of Universal Daycare is the only solution. Free universal daycare is essential because it offers disadvantage individuals the tools to take more control over their lives. Many working mothers have to rely on friends, family and other stay-home moms for childcare,unlike established daycares, these less professional arrangements are not reliable.
Who benefits:
Who would benifit from Universal Day Care? All parents and caregivers would benifit. High quality childcare provides collective as well as individual benefits. The whole society benefits when families can be economically self-sufficient because affordable, reilible childcare enables parents to work, and when children's non-parental care provides the stimulation that assist them to be school ready at age six. Based on the current national butget their is a surpulse and more than enough tax dallors to fund Universal daycare without raising taxes. Some feel that it is a women choice to have children therefore, it is her resonsibity to take care of them. Children are also society responisibility. They are our future. It may not be a priority on the Conservative governments' list to use tax dallors for univeral Day care as they are pushing for and in support of privatization. The current trend in government is to give up support of social programs and make it the resonsiblity of the private sector. Childcare is a social issue for which there is collective responsibility.
In Quebec they have managed to implement a universal childcare programme where parents pay $5 per day. Many psychologists now agree that early childhood education is important to the development of children. These experience of young children are significant in shaping there later life including social skills and cognitive abilities necessary in future school and workplace setting.
Although the federal government has recognized childcare and child development as important components of social security reform; Canada still does not have a universal childcare system and no plans have been made for such a system in the near future.
The Federal Government estimates that this year there is a $6.1 billion surplus. Implementation of a national child care program would cost an estimated $2 billion. Even if the government moved to cut taxes, the surplus allows for the introduction of a universal non-profiting child care program.
Studies show that if Canada is to maintain and improve its competitive position internationally, it must invest in the human capital of today's children. Dollars spent on care for young children are far more effective than dollars spent at any other time in a person's life.
Our Children are Canada’s future, therefore we are requsting the Government to implement and setup funds for Universal childcare that would support parents and the economy in the future.
Our group members handed out a quentionnnaire to see the response of what people knew about daycare.
The results is as follows
QUESTIONNAIRE ON UNIVERSAL DAYCARE
1. What is Universal Daycare?
a. Free Daycare for all (everyone).
b. Free Daycare for low-income families only.
c. Free Daycare for the rich.
2. What do you think is the average cost of Daycare for a Newborn?
a. 850
b. 900
c. 750
3. What do you think is the average cost for toddlers?
a. 780
b. 680
c. 880
4. What do you think is the average cost for preschoolers?
a. 670
b. 570
c. 470
5. What is the average cost for school age?
a. 680
b. 480
c. 580
6. Which level of government do you think is responsible for providing funding for Daycare?
a. Federal
b. Provincial
c. Municipal
7. Based on the knowledge that you now have on Universal Daycare, do you think this would be beneficial to you either now or in the future?
a. Yes
b. No
ANSAWES:
1. 60 people choose (c) as the correct answer
2. For Newborn 80% choose (b)as the correct answer
3. For Toddlers 70% choose(a)
4. For Preschooler 80% choose(c)
5. For Schoolage 60% choose(b)
6. For this question no one was sure of the answer
7. 89% of the people who answered the questions thought that Universal daycare would be beneficial to them now and in the future?
Child care resource and research unit
Government of Ontario
CBC
Fraser Forum
Chils Care Issues
Send E-Mail to: sherma@hotmail.com
Copyright © 2001 Sherma, Angela,Nichole,Rafat,Lisa,Gillian,Nadia. All Rights Reserved