Family Values: Choosing a “Made in Canada” Family Policy

The clear differences in family policy among seven leading industrialized countries show that countries are able to pursue their own approach despite high and growing levels of economic integration.

Document Highlights 

This study examines family policy covering pre-school children in Canada and six other countries (the United States, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Australia and Japan.) It looks at the values influencing family policy and at the policies in place in these countries. It also reviews our limited but growing knowledge about the effect of family policies and programs on child outcomes such as learning readiness and physical well-being, as well as on longer-term outcomes such as graduation rates and crime rates.