Should National Childcare be in the Throne Speech?

Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic and the largest workforce lockdown in a generation, governments are seeing how women have been disproportionately affected. With high rates of job loss, many women and are less able to return to the workplace compared to their male counterparts, and at a slower rate. The lack of adequate, safe, and affordable child care is one of the key hurdles for many women. As such, some economists are advocating for a national childcare program. Without this, some are saying we run the risk of setting back the advancement of women in the workforce by decades. Supportive private and public sector employers say they need their female employees on board in order to re-build. But is it worth the staggering multi-billion dollar investments that some project will be necessary?

The Pearson Centre had a discussion on where we stand now and what comes next. Featuring:

• Kerry McCuaig – Fellow in Early Childhood Policy, Atkinson Centre for Society and Child Development, OISE/UToronto
• Craig Alexander – Partner and Chief Economist, Deloitte
• Dr. David Philpott -Professor, Memorial University Faculty of Education; Child Development Researcher and Advocate

In conversation with…
Brian Gallant – 33rd Premier of New Brunswick; Advisory Board, The Pearson Centre

• Access the full webinar HERE

The Pre-emptive Nature of Quality Early Child Education on Special Educational Needs

• Presentation

The Honourable Margaret McCain remarks to the Special Education Needs Symposium

David and Jane thank you so much for making this important evidence come alive in your presentation. And thanks to Stacey and the Atkinson Centre for hosting us.

The pre-emptive nature of quality early childhood education on special education is a story that needs be told and disseminated widely.

Early education as a remedy for the runaway costs of special education is a motivator for action. Schools do respond successfully to the unique challenges some children confront, but how kinder it is to the child and the family to identify problems and intervene before the hurt and frustration sets in.

The evidence David and his team have amassed will be featured in the upcoming Early Years Study 4 due for release 20 years after the first study. Its call to “Reverse the Real Brain Drain” is still timely. Although there have been gains, many of them precipitated by the work of those in the room, we cannot be satisfied when only one in three Canadian children have an opportunity to participate in preschool.

It’s also timely that we’re meeting today; the day set aside to show appreciation for the work of early childhood educators. Quality early education and the quality of the early child workforce form an unbreakable bond. Policy makers must understand this in their quest to expand child care spaces. More child care without addressing the status of the workforce will only produce poor outcomes for children and for society.

Given the outcome of this week’s election there may be an opening to influence early childhood policy that makes a difference. Early learning was an issue for all the progressive parties who will form the agenda in the next Parliament. Turning promises to effective action will take input, scrutiny and more input. Our Foundation is pleased to support the work of champions like David. We know you will all join him for this next big push to make quality early childhood education for all a reality.

Thank you.

Meetings with the Government of New Brunswick

The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain was in Fredericton, September 26, 27 for a series of discussions with Government officials on the role of early childhood education and its potential for improved productivity, literacy and economic growth in New Brunswick. Mrs. McCain also lead celebrations at the University of New Brunswick launching a new on-line degree in early childhood education and co-hosted a breakfast meeting for business leaders with the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce.

• Access the Media Advisory
• Access The Honourable McCain’s Speaking Notes – Fredericton, Sept 26, 2019

Early Childhood Education: A Foundation for a Fair and Productive Society

Early Childhood Education and care is a game-changer, playing multiple roles in promoting parents’ labour force participation, women’s equity, immigrant settlement, poverty reduction and economic development.

The Honourable Margaret McCain and Scott McCain of the Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Foundation Inc., and co-host Karen Grant of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce, along with Craig Alexander of Deloitte Canada discussed why high quality early childhood education is so beneficial to the economy and laying a foundation to a fair and productive society.

• Invitation
• Press Release
• Presentation

L to R: Scott McCain, Margaret McCain, Craig Alexander

University of New Brunswick Online Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Education Launch

The Honourable Margaret Norrie McCain and Dr. Sharon Wahl, Dean, Faculty of Education and colleagues, will celebrate the launch of the University of New Brunswick’s online Bachelor of Education in Early Childhood Education

Canadian Mothercraft Society

Scott McCain, board member of Margaret and Wallace McCain Family Foundation Inc. will make opening remarks and participate on the panel.

Accounting for Quality in the Early Childhood Workforce

The Summer Institute is an annual collaboration between the School of Early Childhood at George Brown College and the Atkinson Centre for Society and Child Development at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education/University of Toronto. The Institute strives to offer timely information to inform early childhood research, policy and practice. As Canada embarks on a new early years strategy, the Institute examines the importance of the early childhood workforce and the infrastructure necessary to support educators working in an increasingly challenging and diverse sector.

Iram Siraj, Professor of Child Development and Education at the University of Oxford will present Fostering Effective Early Learning through Professional Development at the 16th annual Summer Institute. In addition to her keynote presentation, Professor Siraj will lead a workshop on Developing the whole child through movement play: Using the MOVERS guide to improve the quality of physical well-being.