A new report finds a national child-care system would boost Canada’s economy as it recovers from the effects of COVID-19.
The Liberal government promised a national childcare and early education system in its September throne speech.
We could get more details about that later this month, as the government provides an update on its finances.
The report released Wednesday by the Centre for Future Work estimates that between 363,000 and 726,000 women between 25 and 50 years old could join the labour force over 10 years as a national child-care program is developed.
Among them would be up to 250,000 women moving into full-time jobs.
The paper says a national program would “pay for itself” in the form of extra income tax, extra spending and reduced social costs as more parents enter the workforce.
It estimates thousands more construction jobs would be created as new child-care centres and spaces are built.
There would also be an employment boost in the child-care sector itself of thousands of jobs annually as the system expands.