Submission

BACKGROUND

Success By 6® Saskatoon is individuals, parents, families, communities, non- profit groups, business, labor, governments, including First Nations and Métis, working together to strengthen the well being of children, prenatal to age six, and their families through an integrated community action plan of prevention strategies, advocacy and service delivery.

It is the vision of Success By 6® Saskatoon that all Saskatoon children enjoy a good start in life and are nurtured and supported by caring families and community. They receive the nurturing, stimulation and support they need for healthy growth and development to become contributing citizens. Services and supports are provided through partnerships among individuals, families, communities, service organizations and government.

Key partners are:

• The United Way of Saskatoon (Co-chair)
• The University of Saskatchewan, College of Education (Co-chair)

• Communities for Children: Saskatoon's Planning Council for a Child and Youth Friendly Community (Primary funding and administrative agency)

• CUPE
• Child Hunger and Education Program
• Catholic Family Services
• Child and Youth Services
• Community University Institute of Social Research
• Early Childhood Intervention Program
• EGADZ Teen Parent Program
• Family Day Home Association
• Family Service Saskatoon
• KidsFirst Saskatoon
• Parenting Education Saskatchewan
• READ Saskatoon
• Saskatchewan Early Childhood Association
• Saskatchewan Fetal Alcohol Support Network
• Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit
• Saskatoon Credit Union
• Saskatoon District Health
• Saskatoon District Labour Council
• Saskatoon Preschool Foundation
• Saskatoon Tribal Council, Urban
• The Saskatchewan Prevention Institute
• National Understanding the Early Years Research Project, Saskatoon site

CURRENT ISSUE

Universally accessible early learning childcare (ELCC) services are essential for reducing family poverty by permitting parents to participate in training, education and employment. Without adequate care for their children, poor families may never be able to escape poverty through education and employment. ELCC is also important in helping parents (especially women) balance work and family responsibilities. Difficulty balancing work and family responsibilities contributes to family stress and most of the burden for juggling these falls on women. While ELCC services are not the sole remedy for reducing family stress, they are part of the solution to balancing work and family. ELCC services also support parents in their parenting role through parent involvement, parenting, networking, modeling and other parent support resources.

Women in Canada are in the labour force due to increased financial pressure on families and the shift in ideas about roles for women. Whatever the motivation, dependable care for young children is essential if mothers who would traditionally have been expected to provide it are in the labour force, training or education. Without the availability of affordable reliable ELCC, women may be forced to stay out of the paid labour force, to work at poorly paid part-time employment, or not to take advancement. Some women - especially single mothers - are forced to depend on social assistance and therefore remain in poverty. It is clear the lack of adequate ELCC contributes to exclusion from the labour force and to marginalization through poverty and unemployment.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

Over the past few decades it has become common knowledge ELCC is the conduit that provides equal access to the workforce. However, this idea encompasses more than the need to ensure that mothers of young children are employed. It must embrace the idea that universal child care is required to support women's equality and this provision is a right and is a key element of citizenship. Simply put, without full access to ELCC services, equality for women cannot be a reality.

Additionally, labour policies must also reconcile diverse work and family responsibilities: this means either attempting to help women balance work and family duties with greater ease, or to facilitate the reallocation of some of the responsibility for unpaid work to men. This entails incorporating labour standard policies for maternity or parental leave and child care policies to protect parents in non standard and flexible work environments.

Equity policy must be enshrined in legislation; reliance on voluntary codes of conduct are ineffective.

IMPACT:

The following quotation is an appropriate summation:

• "Advocating sound policy and establishing innovative strategies for early childhood development and care contributes to Canada's path to prosperity. Bold, innovative labour strategies and action plans should strive to be family/child-friendly. When it comes to children, there are unlimited possibilities:
• workplaces that employ on-site/near-site child care centers;
• child care subsidies;
• after-school programs;
• parental networks, information and referral services;
• investing in/sponsoring targeted children's initiatives;
• workplaces that broaden their scope re job sharing, flexible hours, extended parental leave, and family care leaves;
• workplaces that encourage representation on children's advocacy boards.

The elements of a sound labour strategy will aid in developing human capital, promoting a healthier workplace and creating a competitive advantage for business".

Remarks by: Charlie Coffey, Executive Vice President, Government & Community Affairs, RBC Financial Group

to the

Understanding the Early Years Forum, Saskatoon Children: Your Business

Radisson Hotel
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Thursday, June 10, 2004

Jon Ellis
Coordinator
(306) 956-6127
successby6saskatoon@sasktel.net