Can Canadian Women Have it All? How Limited Access to Affordable Child Care Restricts Freedom and Choice

Abstract

The objective of this essay is to provide an historical account of the attempts made to implement a universal child care policy in Canada. Since World War II, we have been seeing large numbers of women entering the workforce and have had no centralized child care policy in place. This contributes to role strain on women as there appears to be little choice in work and family life. This paper explores the effort made by the feminist movement and women’s advocates to establish a universal child care system. I hope to achieve a clear understanding that the need for child care remains an equality issue. Throughout this paper, I will shed light on the effects child care has on women, their families, and society. I will also address the current policies in place and what is to come under the new Liberal government.