Care Economy as National Infrastructure

AI summary

The petitioners assert that Canada’s care systems are essential economic infrastructure and that inadequate care provision disproportionately affects women, reduces workforce participation, and increases economic insecurity. They ask the Minister responsible for Canada–U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy to recognize the care economy under the Building Canada Act, add a National Care Economy Strategy to Schedule 1, direct the Major Projects Office to coordinate its development with provinces, territories, Indigenous governments and stakeholders, and commit long‑term federal investment to childcare, home care, long‑term care, disability supports, mental health services, caregiver income supports and care workforce infrastructure.

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

Petition to the Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy Canada’s care systems are an essential economic infrastructure that enable labour-force participation, productivity, public health, and economic resilience; Women disproportionately perform both paid and unpaid care work, and inadequate care infrastructure contributes to gender inequity, reduced workforce participation, lost earnings, and economic insecurity; Canada’s care economy satisfies the nation-building criteria set out in the Building Canada Act by strengthening labour force participation, supporting healthy aging, improving public health outcomes, reducing poverty and financial insecurity, and increasing economic resilience; and Investments in care infrastructure generate significant economic and social returns, including job creation, increased workforce participation, improved child and senior outcomes, higher productivity, greater gender equity, and reduced long-term healthcare costs. We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada, call upon the Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs and One Canadian Economy to: 1. Recognize the care economy as essential nation-building infrastructure under the Building Canada Act; 2. Recommend to the Governor in Council add a Canadian National Care Economy Strategy to Schedule 1 of the Building Canada Act as a designated major project; 3. Direct the Major Projects Office to coordinate the development and implementation of a comprehensive national care economy strategy in collaboration with provinces, territories, Indigenous governments, care workers, caregivers, and relevant stakeholders; and 4. Allocate and commit long-term federal investment and coordination toward strengthening Canada’s childcare, home care, long-term care, disability supports, mental health services, caregiving income supports, and care workforce infrastructure.

Government response

No government response is available yet.