Evidence of meeting #5 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was million.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

5:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

Thank you.

We're going to finish off with Mr. Lake.

5:05 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Lake Conservative Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, AB

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

One of the things we haven't really talked about today, and I'm kind of surprised about it, is child care. In the last election it was a pretty important issue. I think in the next election it will be very clear that there are two very different ideologies when it comes to families and child care in this country. There's the Liberal-NDP-Bloc view that the only option worth federal consideration is a universal, institutional, top-down, unionized, nine-to-five option. Of course, it has been mentioned that there would be a choice for families who want to opt out, but that option wouldn't be worthy of any federal support, for sure. Then there's the Conservative view that we favour equality of choice for families to make the best decision for their own circumstances.

I noticed some interesting quotes. Back in September, the Times and Transcript in Moncton wrote: “The former federal Liberal government was attempting to initiate a massive, universal daycare program that would have cost Canadian taxpayers billions, all on the basis of oft-heard claims by lobby groups that it was essential and would solve the problem of massive shortages, but that were based on dubious research and questionable facts.”

Even, actually, the former Liberal Deputy Prime Minister, Sheila Copps, said the last agreement--that would be the Liberal agreement “saw some provinces rake in millions without creating a single new daycare space. The Liberal plan is a cash cow for governments while families are cash poor.”

Then actually, the current finance critic for the Liberal Party back in 2000 made, I thought, a very good statement here. He said: “I am strongly opposed to any new national day care program with the cost running into the tens of billions of dollars. Given economic realities and competing demands on government resources, these are programs we cannot afford.” That was back in 2000, and of course, I would note that this is completely inconsistent with Liberal support of Bill C-303.

I have three questions.

Generally, I'd like to know if you can tell me what action the Conservative government has taken to give Canadian parents real choice in child care?

Secondly, and a little bit more specifically, how much money has been transferred to the provinces to support creation of child care spaces? How many have been announced thus far?

The third question I had was regarding Bill C-303. Can you maybe explain to the committee why our government will not support this bill?

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

Monte Solberg Conservative Medicine Hat, AB

Obviously we ran on a very particular platform, as you've pointed out. The changes we've made, I think, are very popular. The universal child care benefit now goes to 1.5 million families on behalf of two million children, and it gives people options. It's a big country where people have very different situations and, frankly, different values. The idea, I think, of some flexibility is pretty welcomed by most people.

There is 250 million new dollars toward the provinces in support of early childhood development and space creation, bringing the total transfers that we make to the provinces every year to $1.1 billion.

I've talked to provincial ministers about this. They liked the idea of flexibility. We're working cooperatively with them, and so far, since we announced this in the spring, they've announced that they intend to create over 32,000 new spaces. So that's obviously very good news.

We've also put in place a business tax credit, which was part of the budget implementation act that just passed, so this will give businesses the opportunity to create spaces, working with the province to licence those, so that if people want to have child care at their business, that will be possible for them. A number of businesses have expressed some interest in this, so we're optimistic that it will work well.

With respect to Bill C-303, what can I say except that not a single province signed on to Bill C-303? I have to say I'm a little surprised at the Bloc for accepting the principle that the federal government has a role to play indirectly providing child care in the provinces, even if they did get an opt-out for Quebec. It's the principle that they accepted.

Again, I point out that not a single province got behind this, including the NDP provinces, I have to point out to my friend Tony. I think it's pretty clear that Quebec, for instance, has made this a priority. They have a universal system. That's their priority. Other provinces have different priorities. We should respect that and respect the Constitution.

5:10 p.m.

Liberal

Michael Savage Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

On a point of order, the minister points out that not a single province signed on to Bill C-303, but I'd like to enunciate that every province in Canada signed on to the previous Liberal child care plans.

Thank you, sir, to clear the records.

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

Ms. Yelich, do you have a final question?

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

Lynne Yelich Conservative Blackstrap, SK

I think that--

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

You respond to that, Minister, if you want to.

Go ahead, Ms. Yelich.

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

Lynne Yelich Conservative Blackstrap, SK

I only want to say to our colleagues across, I think that I share your enthusiasm about ASEP. I think it would be very helpful, perhaps, if we have companies come to committee and tell them the success stories about ASEP. And I don't think we do enough with sector councils. I think that's another success. I see we have invested more, and I think that's something this committee should be looking into.

However, that said, I would like to have the estimates. I'd like to move a motion to have the estimates approved.

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

Okay. From the floor, is there any discussion?

HUMAN RESOURCES AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

Department

Vote 1a--Operating expenditures and authority to make recoverable expenditures on behalf of the Canada Pension Plan and the Employment Insurance Account and, pursuant to paragraph 29.1(2)(a) of the Financial Administration Act, authority to spend revenues received in the fiscal year arising from the provision of Public Access Programs Sector services to offset related expenditures incurred in the fiscal year, and the payment to each member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada who is a Minister without Portfolio or a Minister of State who does not preside over a Ministry of State of a salary not to exceed the salary paid to Ministers of State who preside over Ministries of State under the Salaries Act, as adjusted pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act and pro rata for any period of less than a year – To authorize the transfer of $16,138,000 from Public Works and Government Services Vote 1, Appropriation Act No. 2, 2007-2008 for the purposes of this Vote.......... $1

Vote 5a --The grants listed in the Estimates and contributions – To authorize the transfer of $36,777,706 from Human Resources and Skills Development Vote 1, and $100,000 from Health Vote 40, Appropriation Act No. 2, 2007-2008 for the purposes of this Vote and to provide a further amount of..........$51,131,433

CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION

Department

Vote 15a --To reimburse Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation for the amounts of loans forgiven, grants, contributions and expenditures made, and losses, costs and expenses incurred under the provisions of the National Housing Act or in respect of the exercise of powers or the carrying out of duties or functions conferred on the Corporation pursuant to the authority of any Act of Parliament of Canada other than the National Housing Act, in accordance with the Corporation’s authority under the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Act..........$222,730,000

(Votes 1a, 5a, and 15a agreed to)

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Dean Allison

Minister and colleagues, I want to thank you once again for taking the time out of your schedules to be here today. We appreciate all the time that was spent to be prepared for this today.

Have a great evening, and safe journeys on the snowy roads as you leave.

This meeting is adjourned.