Following a welcome and land acknowledgement by sociologist, Canada Research Chair and the SSHRC grant PI Andrea Doucet, the first day of the symposium was structured by four topical panels, each starting with the presentations by the panelists and followed by a Q&A. Susan Prentice, Duff Roblin Professor of Government & Sociology, University of Manitoba, one of the event’s organizers, moderated the panels and the participant discussion.
A highlight of the symposium’s first day was a mid-day address by the Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development. Minister Gould reinforced the need for all of us to work collaboratively to build a Canada-wide ELCC system, calling it a "nation-building project.”
Note: Click on the presentation titles to access presentation slides in PDF format.
Inuit Nunangat and the Inuit early learning and child care landscape [1] by Amy Graham (Senior Policy Advisor, Inuit Tapirat Kanatami)
Métis early learning and child care [2] by Sharlene Wedel (Senior Director of Education and ELCC, Métis National Council)
Indigenous rights and distinction-based approach (presentation slides not available) by Karen Isaac (Executive Director at BC Aboriginal Child Care Society)
On the second day of the symposium, attendees participated in a lively plenary discussion on the four draft policy propositions, facilitated by Vicky Smallman, President of the Child Care Now board and National Director of Women’s and Human Rights, Canadian Labour Congress.
The participants were invited to reflect on four draft policy propositions and share their feedback or suggestions during facilitated conversations on the following draft policy propositions:
Please note that these policy propositions were draft – to be discussed and were not finalized. Rather they will be the basis of ongoing discussion as the child care movement and allies collaborate to develop next steps in implementing a Canada-wide child care system.
Links
[1] https://childcarecanada.org/sites/default/files/Panel%201a%20-%20Inuit%20Nunangat%20_%20Inuit%20ELCC%20landscape%20-%20Amy%20Graham.pdf
[2] https://childcarecanada.org/sites/default/files/Panel%201b%20-%20Metis%20ELCC%20-%20Sharlene%20Wedel.pdf
[3] https://childcarecanada.org/sites/default/files/Panel%202a%20-%20Child%20care%20fees%20-%20David%20Macdonald.pdf
[4] https://childcarecanada.org/sites/default/files/Panel%202b%20-%20ELCC%20agreement%20%26%20affordabitlity%20-%20Jane%20Beach.pdf
[5] https://childcarecanada.org/sites/default/files/Panel%202c%20-%20%2410aDay%20Child%20Care%20in%20BC%20-%20Lynell%20Anderson.pdf
[6] https://childcarecanada.org/sites/default/files/Panel%203a%20-%20Availability%20%26%20expansion%20-%20Martha%20Friendly.pdf
[7] https://childcarecanada.org/sites/default/files/Panel%203b%20-%20Expansion%20insights%20from%20Quebec%20-%20Sophie%20Mathieu.pdf
[8] https://childcarecanada.org/sites/default/files/Panel%203c%20-%20Expansion%20-%20Christine%20McLean.pdf
[9] https://childcarecanada.org/sites/default/files/Panel%204a%20-%20Education%20of%20ECEs%20-%20Christopher%20Smith.pdf
[10] https://childcarecanada.org/sites/default/files/Panel%204b%20-%20Working%20conditions%20%26%20retention%20-%20Jane%20Beach.pdf
[11] https://childcarecanada.org/sites/default/files/Panel%204c%20-%20Decent%20work%20-%20Carolyn%20Ferns.pdf