The State of Childcare Advocacy in Canada

Brooke RichardsonPh.D. Candidate, Policy Studies

Ryerson University

Research TeamInvestigating Professionalism as a Canadian

Child Care Movement Strategy in an Era of Neoliberalism

Current researcher team: Dr.Rachel Langford, Ryerson UniversityDr. Patrizia Albanese, Ryerson University Dr. Susan Prentice, University of ManitobaBrooke Richardson, Ph.D., student, Ryerson

UniversityLyndsay Macdonald, M.A. student, Ryerson

UniversityEllisha Blair, Undergraduate student, Ryerson

University

Outline of PresentationDefine social movements and social

movement organizations (SMO)Review the current state of childcare SMOs

in CanadaIdentify the key childcare advocacy players

over timeDescribe current research projects

Do we have a national childcare movement in Canada?

Defining a “social movement”“Collectives acting with some degree of

organization and continuity outside of institutional or organizational channels for the purpose of challenging or defending extant authority, whether it is institutionally or culturally based, in the group, organization society, culture, or world order of which they are a part” (Snow et al, 2007, p.11)

European conceptualization of Social Movements“Social movements are a distinct social

process, consisting of the mechanisms through which actors engage in collective action” (della Porta & Diani, p.20).

Social Movement Organizations (SMOs)ProfessionalGrassrootsChild Care Resource and Research Unit?Child Care Human Resource Sector Council?

“Smoke and mirrors”Childcare SMOs have faced extreme

defunding and deprofessionalization since 2006

Number of employees in national SMOs over time CCCF CCAAC

2005 22 6

2013 2.5 0

Not all doom and gloom…ECEBC and CCABC partnered for the

$10/day program in BC which appears to be putting childcare back onto the political agenda in BC

Most provinces now have FDK Quebec’s $7/day program

Key players over timePlayer Historically Now

Women’s groups Founders of the movement

Marginal role (few women’s organizations left)

Grassroots SMOs Central player Largely defunded

Professional SMOs Established mainly in the 70s and 80s Somewhat separate

More a part of the broader movement – still have a more narrow mandate

Unions Key ally and partner Largely sustaining the movement

Academics A handful...mostly on child development/social work side

Asking critical questions More in political science

Charitable Foundations Minimal to no role Behind the scenesSustaining several childcare SMOs, contracts

Current Research Project1. Policy Frames2. Contentious politics3. Collective Identity4. Childcare through a gendered lens

ConclusionAlthough this is certainly a very challenging

time for the national childcare movement, the movement is still alive

Provinces have taken significant strides in this arena

We can talk this afternoon about how to reignite or reenergize the movement