Chapter 4: A review of selected literature on child care auspice in Canada and internationally

In the last twenty years, the United Kingdom has heavily promoted the for-profit child care sector within a market based system in which the national government has played the role of “market manager” since the introduction of a voucher system in 1998 (Mclean, 2014). [...] Thus, the Australian government positioned child care as a commodity applying a business model to the child care system, which ultimately eliminated much of the care from the system. [...] One of the effects of the privatization of the child care sector in New Zealand and elsewhere has been the emergence of child care property as a financial asset and opportunity for real estate invest- ment. [...] The assetization and ultimate financializa- tion of child care is only possible in a market-based system, and has consequences for the sector’s sustainability and ability to provide Risky business: Child care ownership in Canada past, present and future 44 quality child care for children, as Gallagher explained; conceptu- alizing child care properties as an investment opportunity creates rental co. [...] These studies have examined the impact of the market, the influence it has had on the development of for-profit child care and the effects on services and families.