The Business Case for Early Childhood Education and
Care: Building a bridge to economic prosperity
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Charlie Coffey
Executive Vice President
Government & Community Affairs
RBC Financial Group
NPF Atlantic Canada CAPC/CPNP Training Conference
Charlottetown Hotel
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Tuesday, November 4, 2003
Thanks very much for the warm introduction Judy…I often
hear or see your name, in connection to the fine work that
you and your colleagues do with the Canada Prenatal Nutrition
Program (CPNP) - colleagues of course in Ottawa as well as
the Population and Public Health Branch (PPHB) in the Atlantic
Regional Office.
Needless to say, the proof is right here in this room; some
of the programs that provide nutrition counselling and lifestyle
support to pregnant women who may have unhealthy babies, are
represented at this conference - and represented well by the
champions who make things happen with both CPNP and the Community
Action Program for Children (CAPC) in Prince Edward Island,
Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Since there are a few champions who have joined us from outside
this region, I want to acknowledge everyone's contribution
and tireless efforts - plus encourage all of you to make the
most of this experience by networking and sharing best practices.
It's always a pleasure to visit Prince Edward Island - Charlottetown
- especially this time, as I get to tag team with one of my
favourite people and children's advocates, The Honourable
Margaret McCain. I was last here on October 8, 2002 when Rob
Paterson, the Principal of Renwal Consulting Group (and an
avid thinker on early years development) and Ann Robertson,
the Executive Director of C.H.A.N.C.E.S. Family Resource Centre,
invited me to participate in a series of meetings to help
push the envelope on the children's agenda and private sector
involvement/partnerships.
After chatting with Premier Binns, James Ballem (now Minister
of Environment/Energy and Attorney General), Mitchell Murphy
(now Provincial Treasurer), Rory Francis (now with PEI Business
Development Inc.), former Charlottetown Mayor Frank Zakem
(who also co-chairs the Child Alliance Advisory Committee),
not to mention business and community leaders, I said to myself
and out loud: "they understand the importance of early
childhood development in this province...they get it big time."
I was impressed with the excellent political leadership backed
up with sound public policy, as well as a sense of grassroots/community-driven
implementation. And thanks to Ann Robertson, I also learned
more about the "Building on Success: Best Start Program,"
sponsored by C.H.A.N.C.E.S. (Caring, Helping, And Nurturing
Children Every Step). Ultimately, I came away with the view
that PEI, is not only on the right path, it's a role model
for the rest of the country! This is in large part why I accepted
Rob and Ann's invitation to participate in this conference,
without hesitation. It's great to see familiar faces in the
audience.
Speaking of familiar faces…my first up close connection
with CAPC/CPNP dates back to October 2001 - when I was asked
to be the keynote speaker at Ontario's annual conference in
Muskoka. Karen Hunter, who is co-presenting a workshop with
Cathryn Fortier - Teen Pregnancy Prevention - not only helped
me plan my presentation and workshop, she delivered an unforgettable
introduction of yours truly (only on few occasions do my cheeks
become a deep shade of red). The leading-edge work at Brighter
Futures for Children of Young Single Parents in Ottawa will
make for a super workshop tomorrow with Karen and Cathryn.
I've mentioned quite a few names in my opening remarks -
this is just a sampling of the collective voice and power
we need to raise the volume and the bar when it comes to investing
in early childhood education and care (ECEC). Each and every
one of you is part of the collective voice!
In the next few minutes, I want to share some thoughts about
the business case for early childhood education and care,
building a bridge to economic prosperity. Please don't hesitate
to jot down some comments and questions, as we really want
to hear from you this afternoon during the Q/A.
There's no doubt we have Dr. Fraser Mustard and the Canadian
Institute of Advanced Research (CIAR) to thank for expanding
our brainpower in the area of early childhood development.
The groundbreaking Early Years Study (1999), and The Early
Years Study, Three Years Later (2002), will be referenced
for years on end, as will their amazing co-authors Fraser
Mustard and Margaret McCain. And there's also no doubt that
the time is now to convince corporate Canada to take a more
active interest and leadership role in supporting ECEC. The
key to convincing business revolves around building and selling
a compelling case - demonstrating that investing in our children
is good business.
The obvious place to get started is with my involvement -
and making the business case for private sector participation.
I'm involved in supporting early years development because
it's an economic investment that requires more federal, provincial
and municipal government action. RBC can help influence public
policy and public opinion. After all, the development of human
capital at an early age is key to a successful economy.
I'm involved because it's an economic investment that needs
corporate/business action. As a business leader, I have a
responsibility to push the envelope on high priority issues
- and what's more important than children? Businesses "should
strive to be family and child-friendly employers; to provide
enriched child care that connects to elementary schools where
appropriate; to have policies that are sensitive to the involvement
of employees in the education of their children; and to be
bold and creative regarding the importance of parental leave
for new parents."
I'm also involved because it's an economic investment that
requires more community action - kids are everybody's business.
Integrated early years programming is one of the best investments
communities can make. As a children's advocate (and parent),
the only way to make a difference is to get involved and get
others involved!
Business leaders need to hear and talk about research findings
to get the message about various elements at risk: current
and future customers, employees and stakeholders, a healthier
workplace (work/life initiatives), increased productivity,
a more attractive bottom line and corporate responsibility.
Equally important is the contribution of early childhood development
and care to the creation and nurturing of human capital. Here's
some research at work that shows investing in children is
good business:
- "For every $1 spent on child care there is a $2
economic benefit. The benefit comes back through increased
tax revenues, and decreased social, education and health
costs."
- "A child's brain development in the first six years
of life sets the foundation for lifelong learning, behaviour
and health."
- "If the first few years of life include support
for growth in cognition, language, motor skills, adaptive
skills and social-emotional functioning, the child is more
likely to succeed in school and later contribute to society."
- High-quality early childhood education produces "long-term
positive outcomes and cost-savings that include improved
school performance, reduced special education placement,
lower school dropout rates, and increased lifelong earning
potential. Not only does high-quality early childhood education
make a difference for children, it matters to their employed
parents. Employers increasingly find that the availability
of good early childhood programs is critical to the recruitment
and retention of parent employees."
- "It's estimated that work-life conflicts cost Canadian
organizations roughly $2.7 billion in lost time due to work
absences (this figure does not include indirect costs such
as replacement of the employee during the absence, overtime
costs or reduced service or productivity.)"
More research, references and links, including the Report,
"Never too early to invest in children: Early childhood
education and care matters to business!" can be found
on the Voices for Children web site that some of
you may be acquainted with - www.voicesforchildren.ca.
Facts, figures, and return on investment are the kind of
language that business understands. And the message is clear:
we all bear a burden for failing to provide the "right
start" to our children. We bear it as parents, taxpayers
and businesspeople.
We need more business leaders to view early childhood programs
and child care as an economic issue, not just an education
or social issue. It's an important economic issue because
early childhood education and care enables parents to work,
learn and train while helping to prepare children for a brighter
future. We must make the wise investments in child care today
to ensure a competitive workforce and economy tomorrow and
beyond.
Minister John Manley's budget announcement (February 17,
2003) of "$900 million over five years to assist provinces
and territories to increase access to quality child care and
early learning opportunities, and $35 million over five years…for
First Nations children, primarily on reserve", was a
critical step in the right direction. It's clear that early
childhood education and care is on the political agenda. Now,
this agenda must move forward to the next level, which means
putting money directly into child care and making high-quality
early childhood education and care a national/universal priority,
while targeting the children most in need. This investment
in early childhood education should be a coordinated effort
to ensure program quality and to serve more children and families,
including aboriginal children. Community-driven programming
through family resource centres is a most effective way to
reach young children and families - to help make a difference.
Business has a key role to play in helping to nudge
government action on early childhood development and care
issues - in helping to influence public policy. Business also
needs to support governments in developing national/regional
early childhood education and care programs to replace the
"patchwork" of projects and initiatives that are
in place today. Since the underlying goal of corporate responsibility
is prosperity for Canada, the private sector should increase
its support of children, learning and education. Prosperity
depends on well-developed minds - intelligence, imagination,
ingenuity and innovation. Advocating sound policy and establishing
innovative strategies for early childhood education and care
will contribute to Canada's prosperity.
Let's talk about business strategies and action plans…when
it comes to children, there are unlimited business possibilities:
- workplaces that employ on-site/near-site child care centres
- child care subsidies
- after-school programs
- parental networks, information and referral services
- investing in/sponsoring targeted children's initiatives
- workplaces that broaden their scope re job sharing, flexible
hours, extended maternity leave, and family care leaves
- workplaces that encourage representation on children's
advocacy boards.
These are all elements of a sound business strategy, and
they will aid in developing human capital, promoting a healthier
workplace and creating a competitive advantage.
Let's talk about business, government and community partnerships…there's
a whole host of opportunities for business investment in childhood
education and care - in employees and families. We must continue
to listen to the voice of our employee partners (primarily
through work/life initiatives) in order to help meet objectives
and expectations.
We also know the private sector can collaborate with governments
and community organizations for the development and support
of children. Partnerships are an essential piece of the early
childhood education and care investment. Corporations are
part of the community. Best practices are community-based.
And best practices are about community leadership and almost
always about partnerships.
Partnerships encourage business to be catalysts for change…to
show their heart. What a great way to build a civil/civic
society and promote shared responsibility. So my question
to you is similar to the one I posed in Hamilton and Winnipeg
over the past few weeks: "how many business leaders know
about your resource centre or project? Have you invited them
in - shown them what you're doing?"
RBC Financial Group supports partnerships that focus on learning
and children. For example, we announced $1.3 million in funding
for our 2003/2004 after-school programs that offer development
opportunities for kids. The Adventure Group (Charlottetown),
St. John's Boys and Girls Club, Community YMCA (Halifax),
Fredericton Boys and Girls Club and the Miramichi Boys and
Girls Club, are just some of the new and renewed after-school
grant recipients.
There are unlimited possibilities for private sector involvement!
From the Kids R First Family Resource Centre (Summerside)
and the Mi'Kmaq Child Development Centre (Halifax), to the
North Shore Early Childhood Committee (Corner Brook) and Healthy
Baby and Me (Moncton), these CAPC/CPNP programs (and many
more like them), help promote healthy child development in
each community. Where there's a community need, there's an
opportunity for private sector involvement. And where there's
private sector involvement, there's an opportunity for partnership
building.
On October 30th, Premier Binns invited Islanders to submit
nominations for the Premier's Council on Healthy Child Development
"Champions for Children" Awards. These awards are
presented each year to individuals who have contributed to
the well-being of young children and their families in PEI.
That same day, more than 120 parents, caregivers, educators
and representatives from community organizations, business
and government gathered for the third annual Children's Think
Tank, held in Cornwall. Some of you may have attended this
event last week. And from November 23-25, 2003, Prince Edward
Island will host the national conference - "The Early
Years: Making a World of Difference." This is all good
news for PEI and Atlantic Canada. This is all good news for
children and families across the country. This is all good
news for all of you and partnership building.
To everyone…take pride in the leadership difference
you make for families and children in your communities each
and every day. Keep up the great work while you're here and
when you head home to your centres and projects…and remember
to stay focused on the pursuit of partnerships. This will
go a long way in ensuring quality programs are maintained
and new ones are nurtured in your province and from coast
to coast. To Michelle Rivard, Joan Mendes, Lee Merrigan-Thomas,
Diane Levesque, Karen Beresford, Carolyn D'Entremont, Trudy
Reid, Julie MacDonald, Janet Payne and Lurlean Palmer, your
support of this event has been well worth the time and effort
expended. And to Laura Quinn, specials thanks for your instrumental
role in coordinating this conference and our involvement.
In closing, early childhood education and care thrives on
interdependence and collaboration in order to work and work
well - it requires leadership at all levels and business leadership
at a high level. It's time for business to step up to the
plate - it's time for our leadership voice to be heard in
greater numbers. "In today's world, where education and
skill levels determine future earnings, the economic and social
costs to individuals, communities, and the nation of not taking
action on early childhood education are far too great to ignore,
especially when the benefits far outweigh the costs."
The bottom line is that early childhood education
and care is good business…and building a bridge to economic
prosperity - building a bridge to a brighter future (the theme
of your conference) is also good business. Why not make good
business, your business?
Thank you…now let's hear from you!
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