Answering frequently asked questions about Early Childhood Education and Childcare (ECEC) in Canada, this accessible investigation seeks to establish proper standards for childcare programs, kindergartens, and nursery schools, thereby supporting the development of youth and accommodating parents who work or study. Questions covered include" Why doesn't Canada have an ECEC system, even though other countries do? What is missing in Canada's ECEC landscape and why? "and" Is ECEC primarily a public good, a private family responsibility, or an opportunity for profit-making?" Identifying this system as a political issue, this argument proposes that Canada requires an integrated system of services, stating that the absence of universal public funding is detrimental to the future of the country's families, women, and children. Additional topics discussed include an analysis of the history of ECEC, politics and policies, and suggested improvements for the future.

Social inequality. Selective political attention. Insufficient funding and access. Caring for Children provides a comprehensive, interdisciplinary examination of the crisis in care for Canadian children and their caregivers. The contributors explore the complex issues surrounding caring for children, analyzing the connections between services and programs to reveal how child care, parental leave, informal care, live-in caregiver programs, and child tax benefits affect the well-being of Canadian children and their families. They affirm the necessity of questioning political attitudes and arrangements and ask what social movements can do to promote positive change in approaches to the care of children.