Canada is undergoing enormous social and economic changes. While policies and programs must evolve to address these changing needs, they should be developed within the context of our shared values, priorities and responsibilities.

In this brief, the Canadian Child Care Federation presents the position that: investing in child care for all of Canada's children is fiscally and socially responsible; and assuring quality in child care is a shared responsibility and an immediate priority.

Child care is a significant component in the lives of more than two million Canadian children and their families. Many children enter child care before they are one year old and spend more waking hours in the child care setting than in their own home. The quality of this child care environment is very important. It must not only protect a child's health and safety, but promote optimal child development.

The current "system" of child care across the country is tenuous at best. Many areas and populations are under-serviced. Many needed programs are non-existent or under-resourced. The situation is urgent. Over the next three years, the priority should be to stabilize the system by ensuring that any expansion is based on a foundation of quality

Quality cannot be assured by government regulations alone. Quality child care is delivered in a partnership of governments, child care organizations, parents, communities and training institutions. These partners carry out complementary responsibilities that must be coordinated and supported.

The Canadian Child Care Federation calls upon the federal government to take leadership and work with the child care partners to develop and implement a national strategy for child care that assures quality.

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