It’s the secret no one tells you about parenthood. And no, it’s not the fleeting pain of childbirth. And it’s not the shock of caring for a tiny person. Despite the initial whirlwind of diapers, feedings and laundry, the truly difficult time comes later.
That’s when you need to return to work and discover that it would have been much better to be Swedish. Or the prime minister of Canada, who can hire two nannies and not have to pay the bill from his own salary like regular folk.
It’s unfortunate that the debate over Justin Trudeau’s recent hiring of two child-care workers has focussed on his earlier promises, his personal wealth and his wife’s role, rather than on the needs of all Canadians.
If we discuss the issue in a larger context, Trudeau might realize that it’s not just his family’s challenge; it’s Canada’s. Child care is an issue that needs to be solved for society at large. Even if your children have grown or you have none, child care affects you; it’s an issue that hampers our productivity as a nation and typically holds women back from achieving their potential and earning real income.
What Canadian parents need is reliable, affordable, safe care that provides early education to toddlers and allows parents to work – and not just 8 to 5.
In Canada, most of the child care available is unregulated and expensive on an average salary – even though daycare workers are, unfortunately, among the lowest paid people in the country. For parents who need care for their infants, finding a spot in a quality facility or home is a challenge, and many do not find a suitable place by the time they must return to work.
Some parents change their work schedules, opt for part-time employment at lower pay or quit work altogether to care for their young children. But most single parents – and many couples – must work.
In Sweden, the government has been tweaking the child care system for the decades so that now, every parent has access to quality child care at reasonable rates, charged on a sliding scale related to income. Most daycares are public, administered by municipalities, and parents are guaranteed a spot within three months.
In Canada, child care is the largest issue affecting the ability to work for women – and many men – today. I hope Prime Minister Trudeau will realize that the problem is not just his and Sophie’s and initiate a systemic change. Because, after all, it’s 2015.
