Lisa Petersen, a former educator from British Columbia, effortlessly secured full-time subsidized daycare for her daughter, Naia, through an online portal in Copenhagen. In stark contrast, many Canadian parents still grapple with long waitlists and high childcare fees. Despite a federal target to reduce daycare fees to $10 per day by 2026, five provinces including Alberta, Ontario, B.C., Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick are yet to achieve this goal.
While Canada contemplates extending the Liberal subsidy program, lessons from countries like Australia caution against a market-based approach that risks inefficient allocation of public funds and compromises care quality. In Australia, where subsidies have failed to contain rising fees, over 70% of daycares operate for profit, leading to concerns of price exploitation and neglect of quality.
The Australian childcare system’s shortcomings are evident in issues like childcare deserts, where underserved areas lack adequate care facilities, and a lack of quality evaluations that could compromise safety standards. The sector’s reliance on a low-paid workforce has also led to high turnover rates, particularly in remote regions.
Australia’s recent childcare scandals have prompted discussions on transitioning to a universal public or non-profit care model. In contrast, Denmark’s successful daycare system treats access to childcare as a fundamental right, ensuring a spot for every child. The Danish approach, where childcare is an extension of the public education system, has resulted in over 92% of children aged one to two years being in some form of daycare.
While implementing a public daycare system akin to Denmark’s may present challenges in countries like Canada and Australia, advocates stress the need to prioritize quality and affordability over profit-driven models. Efforts to revisit funding formulas and enhance subsidies to benefit parents and sustain quality daycares are crucial steps towards building a reliable and accessible childcare system for all.