Serving as a vehicle for raising the profile of and thereby gaining recognition for the important research and development work being conducted in Canada in support of children and families, the "Research Connections Canada" series compiles research and/or development papers as well as background papers, analytical literature reviews, and essays. This issue of the series focuses on various issues affecting child care in Canada. The single paper reviews research on: (1) the changing Canadian family; (2) the importance of early experience for infants and toddlers; (3) child care and children's development; (4) promoting quality in child care; (5) funding child care; and (6) targeted versus universal child care. Four appendices include an overview of Canadian center child care requirements by jurisdiction, 1999; overview of family child care requirements by jurisdiction, 1999; the Social Union Framework Agreement; and summaries of selected research on child care in Canada (Marilynn Kuhn). (Contains 161 references.) (HTH)