Andrea Riley
a.riley@rogers.com
Background
Early in life, I learned what life was like without much parental care. I started caring for myself at a young age and never realized how different life might have been for me, until I became a mother myself at the age of 27.
Prior to the birth of our first child, my husband and I agreed that I would stay home and raise the children while they were young. Due to our personal set of circumstances and beliefs about childcare, we chose to sacrifice a second income to ensure that a parent was at home to raise the children while they were young.
Seven years later, I started advocating the rights of SAH parents. The following six years were spent researching, writing and debating with fellow advocates. Along the way, I met many interesting and dedicated people who all brought different aspects regarding childcare to my attention and consequently I changed my motivation to include the rights of all parents.
Objective
Current childcare policies are in need of reform and must reflect that of all Canadian parents and not just a select few. By granting policy fairness to parents, we eliminate the form of discrimination in place and offer real and needed choices. Canada is a country that prides itself on these freedoms and improving these policies only re-establishes to Canadians and the rest of the world that we are true to our word; let’s not waste this opportunity.
Personal Note
As a founding member of the NFCA, I have a chance to assist in improving childcare policies for future generations. Children are our greatest commodity and the future of Canada; they deserve nothing less.