Analysing the Social, Political and Economic Factors of Licensed Group Child Care in Saskatchewan

Internationally, Canada has fallen behind in the development and funding of early childhood education and care (ECEC) policies. Since the 1960’s in Canada, there has been numerous heated political and social debates of whose responsibility it is to develop and provide licensed child care spaces. ECEC policies at the federal, provincial and territorial levels are incoherent, underfunded and ineffective. Access across Canada varies significantly and Saskatchewan has one of the lowest percentage of licensed child care spaces for children 0 to 5 years of age at 12.4 percent (Friendly, Grady, Macdonald, & Forer 2015;10). Using a Marxist Feminist orientation combined with Gosta Esping Andersen’s Welfare Regime Theory, I examined what social, political and economic factors have shaped Saskatchewan’s current licensed child care policy. To answer my research question I employed a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to examine Annual Reports from the Ministry of Education, Social Services and Finance from 1999 to 2015 as well as the Early Childhood Development Reports, Saskatchewan Early Years Plan 2016-2020 and Hansards. Factors such as a growth in Saskatchewan’s population for children 0-5 years of age, increase of mothers with young children, focus from the government to maintain funding on targeting services, neo-liberal policies and limited advocacy within the province have shaped the provinces current licensed child care policy