Canada’s current childcare policies, built on outdated nuclear-family structures, fail to meet the diverse needs of today’s families. With 20% of children in Canada living in single-parent households, and the cost of childcare on the rise, low-income, Indigenous, and racialized families face significant challenges. These policies primarily support parents, and exclude extended family and community members who often play vital roles in caregiving.
This proposal introduces a Family Caregiver Benefit for Early Childhood Care to address these gaps. By redefining “parent” to include extended family members and other key caregivers, this policy allows them to access up to 25 days of paid leave during a child’s early years. We propose administering this benefit through the Employment Insurance (EI) Caregiving Benefits Program, with additional support for those ineligible for EI through provincial income assistance and Jordan’s Principle for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis families.
This policy actively addresses inequities in access to childcare support, strengthens community bonds, and enhances cultural continuity. It provides a safety net for families facing economic hardship, and promotes a collective approach to caregiving that many communities have practiced for generations.
By implementing this policy, we align with Canada’s goals for poverty reduction, gender equity, and reconciliation, ensuring that all children grow up in nurturing and secure environments. We will conduct regular evaluations to measure the policy’s impact and ensure it continues to effectively meet the evolving needs of diverse families.
Watch Savannah’s policy presentation: