Bill C-208

Early Learning and Child Care Act

An Act respecting early learning and child care

Sponsor

Lindsay Mathyssen  NDP

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Outside the Order of Precedence (a private member's bill that hasn't yet won the draw that determines which private member's bills can be debated), as of Dec. 9, 2021

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Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament often publishes better independent summaries.

This enactment establishes criteria in respect of early learning and child care programs that must be satisfied before transfer payments may be made by the Government of Canada to a province in support of those programs. It also provides for the establishment of an advisory council to advise the Minister of Employment and Social Development on matters relating to early learning and child care.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Early Learning and Child Care Act

December 9th, 2021 / 10:05 a.m.
See context

NDP

Lindsay Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-208, An Act respecting early learning and child care.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Winnipeg Centre for seconding this bill and for her work on this file.

There is an affordability crisis in this country. Being able to afford housing, food and other necessities is becoming increasingly difficult, and the pandemic has only exacerbated the struggles that many encounter. Families are struggling to find early learning and child care spaces and costs are not affordable in many cities. Parents are forced to make impossible choices between delaying their return to work and paying huge amounts for the child care they need.

After promising an affordable child care program for 28 years, I am glad to see that the Liberals are finally moving forward on their many promises. However, there is still a lack of critical details on the agreements signed with the provinces and the long-term stability and universality of this program.

I am tabling this bill today to establish the core principles of a universal early learning and child care program, one that is based on accountability, quality, universality and accessibility, and to establish the standards needed to meet these principles. I am calling on the government to work with us to continue to move child care forward. It is too important to get wrong.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)