Childcare services decline, report says.

TORONTO -- With the exception of Quebec, Canada's child care services are in decline, and the situation is worsening, according to a new report on child care and early childhood education.

While regulated child care spaces grew from 371,573 to 593,430 since 1992, 70% of growth was in Quebec. In the rest of Canada, there were only 65,340 new spaces.

"The deterioration--especially in some provinces--is alarming", said Martha Friendly, one of the authors. "While there have been improvements in some places, most of these are fairly scanty considering what children and families need."

The report, Early childhood education and care in Canada 2001, was prepared by Martha Friendly, Jane Beach and Michelle Turiano and published by the University of Toronto, Childcare Resource and Research Unit. (Link to the full report through our website: communityaction.ca.)

* Total spending for child care outside Quebec has dropped by about $70 million (in 2001 dollars) since 1992.

* Growth in child care has slowed dramatically over the decade 1992 to 2001. In the previous decade (1980-1990), child care spaces outside Quebec grew by more than 160,000.

* The labour force rate of mothers of children in all age groups continued to grow; the rate for those with children 3-5 years grew from 68% to 73.4% (1992-2001).

* Subsidy eligibility levels (in constant 2001 dollars) in seven provinces/terri tories dropped between 1992 and 2001. Most have not adjusted eligibility levels or adjusted them very little over the decade.

Friendly, coordinator of the Childcare Resource and Research Unit, points out that the decline had occurred during a period when governments across Canada professed recognition of the importance of the early years and "giving each child the best start in life".

Differences between Quebec and the rest of Canada in early childhood programs continue to grow.

* In 2001, Quebec spent 58% of the $1.9 billion spent by provinces/territories on regulated child care.

* Per (child) capita annual spending on regulated child care was 10 times higher in Quebec ($980) than it was in the province that spent the least ($91).

* Quebec now has 40% of all regulated child care spaces (it has 23% of total child population).

Quebec is well ahead of Canada on child care. "But the reason is simple, said Martha Friendly: it's simple because they set a goal of universal high quality early childhood education and care, adopted a plan with targets and timetables, and have dedicated substantial money and resources to moving forward".

The 200 page report includes extensive data on kindergarten and child care programs in each province/territory, Aboriginal programs, quality, contextual and demographic data, historical and recent policy and program developments.

The research was funded by Human Resources Development Canada. 416-978-6895