Williams – societal solutions

The three Early Years studies, that go back to the mid-nineties, I think have had a terrific impact in Canada and frankly around the world. In terms of all of us understanding the importance of what was then the new neuro-science. And looking at its impact not only on genetics, because of where we were, we thought that what you’re given in your DNA was, we came to understand that the importance of the environment and then, the importance of the supports that we could put in place in the environment. So I think it has shone a light across not only for health care workers and early childhood development folk, but much broader. Because it’s an all society problem as we look at how successful or not successful Canadian kids are. We need to engage our politicians, our economists, our public sector, our private sector, in the solutions that are societal solutions.  And so I think the early years studies have helped us to know and understand, in language that all of us can engage in, and realize that we all have a significant piece in Canada’s uh supports to kids.  

Sometimes I am disappointed with Canada’s track record. You can’t read any of the Innocenti  Comparative reports that come out that show Canada compared to 29 other nations and their support for early childhood without feeling really discouraged. We are a resource-rich country. And why we can’t, uh, garner the attention and the resources that other countries are putting into early childhood… I think we’re coming to understand that… But sometimes I feel disappointed that, and how, how can we package it differently to get the energy and the resources that young children and young families need.