- CBC exposes the galling amnesty deal offered by the Canada Revenue Agency to wealthy individuals who evaded paying tax through a sham offshoring scheme.
- Caelainn Barr and Shiv Malik examine the generational divide which is seeing the income of young adults wither away across most of the developed world. And PressProgress highlights how a higher minimum wage would benefit a large group of workers - including, but not limited to, those younger workers.
- Emma Graney reports on the Saskatchewan Party's cuts to language schools at a time when there's a particularly large need to support newly-arrived residents to Saskatchewan.
- Meanwhile, Chantal Hebert notes that Brad Wall's climate change obstruction is making him look like a dinosaur even compared to other right-wing leaders. And in contrast, Gillian Steward discusses what Rachel Notley was able to accomplish by approaching the federal-provincial climate change meeting with a willingness to listen to other provinces, rather than Wall's strategy of bluster and complaints.
- Finally, the Star makes the case for a national child care program (while recognizing the Trudeau Libs' total lack of interest since they took power):
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development has ranked Canada dead last out of 25 states for the quality and accessibility of its child care.
No single move by governments would make such a big difference in the lives of women and families as a comprehensive national plan to provide quality, affordable child care. On the day set aside to mark women’s achievements, and the barriers that keep them from making even more progress, it’s worth remembering that.
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It’s not just parents who are losing out. A TD Bank study found that for every $1 invested in child care, provincial governments receive $1.50 in increased tax revenues.
And then there’s the cost to the children themselves. Early childhood education reduces inequalities that result from poverty. And it decreases the number of children in special education classes by identifying problems and intervening early. Indeed, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada concluded that the lack of affordable child care was putting the health and well-being of children at risk.
Women and families have been waiting for decades for real progress towards comprehensive national child care. The Trudeau government has pushed forward on many fronts since it took power in early November, but child care isn’t one of them.
On International Women’s Day, especially, the politicians should remember that this remains one of the country’s biggest unmet social needs and resolve to make it a real priority.
Suggesting childcare is only a women's issue is sexist. Its good for Fathers, especially single Fathers as well.
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