1. Brooke Richardson Ph.D. Candidate, Policy Studies Ryerson University

2. Research Team Investigating Professionalism as a Canadian Child Care Movement Strategy in an Era of Neoliberalism Current researcher team: Dr.Rachel Langford, Ryerson University Dr. Patrizia Albanese, Ryerson University Dr. Susan Prentice, University of Manitoba Brooke Richardson, Ph.D., student, Ryerson University Lyndsay Macdonald, M.A. student, Ryerson University Ellisha Blair, Undergraduate student, Ryerson University

3. Outline of Presentation Define social movements and social movement organizations (SMO) Review the current state of childcare SMOs in Canada Identify the key childcare advocacy players over time Describe current research projects

4. Do we have a national childcare movement in Canada?

5. Defining a “social movement” “Collectives acting with some degree of organization and continuity outside of institutional or organizational channels for the purpose of challenging or defending extant authority, whether it is institutionally or culturally based, in the group, organization society, culture, or world order of which they are a part” (Snow et al, 2007, p.11)

6. European conceptualization of Social Movements “Social movements are a distinct social process, consisting of the mechanisms through which actors engage in collective action” (della Porta & Diani, p.20).

8. Social Movement Organizations (SMOs) Professional Grassroots Child Care Resource and Research Unit? Child Care Human Resource Sector Council?

9. “Smoke and mirrors” Childcare SMOs have faced extreme defunding and deprofessionalization since 2006 Number of employees in national SMOs over time CCCFCCAAC 2005226 20132.50

10. Not all doom and gloom… ECEBC and CCABC partnered for the $10/day program in BC which appears to be putting childcare back onto the political agenda in BC Most provinces now have FDK Quebec’s $7/day program

11. Key players over time PlayerHistoricallyNow Women’s groupsFounders of the movementMarginal role (few women’s organizations left) Grassroots SMOsCentral playerLargely defunded Professional SMOsEstablished mainly in the 70s and 80s Somewhat separate More a part of the broader movement – still have a more narrow mandate UnionsKey ally and partnerLargely sustaining the movement AcademicsA handful...mostly on child development/social work side Asking critical questions More in political science Charitable FoundationsMinimal to no roleBehind the scenes Sustaining several childcare SMOs, contracts

12. Current Research Project 1. Policy Frames 2. Contentious politics 3. Collective Identity 4. Childcare through a gendered lens

13. Conclusion Although this is certainly a very challenging time for the national childcare movement, the movement is still alive Provinces have taken significant strides in this arena We can talk this afternoon about how to reignite or reenergize the movement