Excerpts from the document:
Stephen Harper and his Conservatives say that Canada doesn't need a high quality early childhood education and care system. But the reality is that not investing in good child care is bad economics. Universal, community-based systems of high quality early childhood education and care are part of the backbone of strong economies.
Investing in the early years is first and foremost about investing in our children's physical, social, emotional and intellectual well-being. It is also part of ensuring that Canada is competitive with other modern economies. Healthy child development is a critical foundation for 21st century economies that are increasingly knowledge-based. Studies overwhelmingly show that good quality child care is good for children's development but poor quality may be harmful. The verdict is in &em; good quality, early childhood education and care helps prepare today's children to succeed in knowledge-based jobs that require lifelong learning.
Economists, bankers and early childhood development commentators such as Dr. Fraser Mustard and Margaret McCain, authors of the The Early Years report, say that universal child care is key to Canada's path to prosperity. James Heckman, Nobel-prize winning economist argues that investment in early childhood brings greater returns than investment in any other stage of education.