MQIISP Policy Seminar Series: Session 4 - The Care Economy

This was the fourth online policy seminar in the Challenges and Opportunities for Social Policy in the Coming Decade series. The policy seminars were organized in part by policy sector, focusing on the tools available in different sectors; however, each panel considered how policies interconnect, and how vulnerable groups intersect to create concentrations of advantage and disadvantage.   

The care sector (including childcare, long-term care, education, and other direct and indirect care services) is now understood to be a key engine of economic growth and employment generation. Lack of adequate high-quality childcare constrains workforce participation and is a source of continuing stress for many families. Lack of high-quality options for long-term care leads to poor health outcomes and places additional stress on other social institutions (notably hospitals) and on families. Inadequate care facilities are also plagued by staff shortages and poor working conditions. Canadian federal and provincial governments are making significant investment in child care through the Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) agreements. Will these arrangements solve Canada's child care problems?  

For more information about this series and The Next Wave: Challenges & Opportunities for Social Policy Conference, please visit: https://munkschool.utoronto.ca/munk-school-queens-international-institute-social-policy