Canada has a different approach to many social policy challenges than the U.S. Now, an idea has emerged in British Columbia to charge parents $10 a day for child care, The Victoria Times Colonist reports.
The idea comes from the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of B.C., and it’s only a proposal, not a new policy.
(University of B.C.) political scientist Paul Kershaw, whose focus is Canadian family policy, says the $10 daily childcare fee would technically cost the province $1.5 billion annually.
But it would be partly offset by more than $500 million in taxes paid from an estimated 17,000 more working mothers, and further by the taxation and increased spending power of 23,000 early-child educators being paid $25 an hour. Moreover, businesses would save $300 million by not having to recruit and retrain those 17,000 working parents, he adds. – “Looking to the future: A coalition says cheaper daycare is in the best interests of both government and citizens.”
Check out the storyand the coalition’s plan here.
Child Care Subsidies are Essential: In Minnesota, a fight broke out over a move to declare child care subsidies non-critical and not paid during the state’s ongoing shutdown, CLASP reports.
But, a district court judge then ruled the aid was essential, which means families will continue to receive child care subsidies during the shutdown, CLASP said.
What the state sees as "not critical" is in fact a link to employment for thousands of low-income workers. Ninety-seven percent of families receiving help with child care in Minnesota are working or in training or education programs. –CLASP. 7/12/11.
Check out the story over at CLASP’s Child Care & Early Education website.
Kentucky Racing to the Top: Kentucky has joined the list of states making an aggressive bid for a Race to the Top award. Gov. Steve Beshear created an Early Learning Advisory Council this week, which will help develop Kentucky’s RTTT application, according to a press release from the governor’s office.
(Thanks to The Lexington Herald-Leader for finding this news.)