Human Resources Committee on March 7th, 2023

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Mr. Van Bynen.

That concludes our round. We have only a few minutes left.

Is it the pleasure of the committee to adjourn? What's the wish of the committee?

We'll go with a two-minute round. We'll go to Madame Bérubé.

[Sylvie Bérubé, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

You have two minutes.

[Sylvie Bérubé, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

All right.

Ms. Lattimore, you say that Bill C‑35 primarily applies to the federal framework, and therefore did not need to include Quebec's withdrawal with full compensation. However, the current agreement with Quebec is for five years.

What guarantee is there for Quebec that, in the next round of negotiations, standards and obligations won't be imposed by the federal government?

[Michelle Lattimore]

That's a good question.

That's why the bill is important. We just need to make sure that the federal government is present as a partner beyond five years. If Bill C‑35 is passed, it will confirm the government's commitment and funding for the early education and child care system, while maintaining the flexibility needed for agreements with the provinces, like the asymmetrical agreement with Quebec.

[Sylvie Bérubé, Bloc, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

What is there in this bill to avoid conflicts between Quebec and Ottawa when the current agreement expires?

[Michelle Lattimore]

What the bill ensures for the Province of Quebec is that Canada will be there in the long run with funding for continued improvements to the Quebec system of early learning and child care. It has been, and continues to be, the intention of the federal government to work with Quebec to sign asymmetric agreements that recognize Quebec's deep work in this space and its success in building a child care system.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Ms. Bérubé.

Madame Zarrillo, you have two minutes or less.

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I want to ask about children with disabilities and families with kids with disabilities.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was ratified by Canada in 1991, talks about how children with disabilities “should enjoy a full and decent life, in conditions which ensure dignity, promote self-reliance and facilitate the child's active participation in the community.” I can say that in British Columbia, this is still a work in progress and a challenge. I hear from many families that can't get access to adequate day care.

I want to ask the team what they've heard from families with children with disabilities. What considerations in the bill reflect specific input from families with children with disabilities?

[Michelle Lattimore]

Thank you for the question.

One thing I can speak to, perhaps, with respect to children with disabilities, is the value we are now seeing in having built a national advisory council that is reflective of the diversity of Canada, and in having, on that council, the voices of individuals who have deep experience with, and appreciation for, the challenges faced by families with children with disabilities.

Bill C-35 acknowledges that the government is committed to continuing to work in this space. This is rights-based legislation. It's reflected in the preamble of the bill as well. Its purpose is to further the progressive realization of the right to benefit from child care services, as recognized in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. That includes application to persons with disabilities.

We understand the perspective of many vulnerable communities: Child care services are difficult to access and facilities are more expensive to build, so our goal is to work very closely with provinces and territories through the bilateral agreements to ensure inclusive spaces are at the top of the list in terms of those investments as space creation continues.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Madame Zarrillo.

We're going to Madame Ferreri for two minutes and then to members from the governing side for two minutes, whoever that may be.

Madame Ferreri, you have two minutes.

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I really want on the record that this is about the welfare of the child. There is nobody in here who doesn't want access to quality, affordable child care. There's nobody we've met with or talked to who doesn't agree that this is what we want. The stress in the pages and pages of notes I have from parents whose mental health is declining daily because they do not have access to child care is a major concern.

When I'm doing these lines of questioning about inclusivity and the language, it is for the welfare of the child. It is not to play some political game. It really is about the intersection of providing access to all.

On slide 19 you say, “The Council would consist of 10 to 18 members who are representative of the diversity of Canadian society”. What are the KPIs, key performance indicators, for council members? How are you measuring the success, and how did you decide who these 10 to 18 people are who are representing diversity? Also, does that include small home day cares that are independently operated and owned?

[Michelle Lattimore]

I'm sure that you can appreciate that creating a national advisory council that is reflective of the diversity of Canada while also limiting the size of that council to 18 people makes it almost impossible for every voice and every experience to be heard on that council—

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

I hate to interrupt, but we're so limited with time. I'm so sorry.

Is private child care represented on that council, and what are the key performance indicators to measure success for this council?

[Michelle Lattimore]

I don't have key performance indicators to measure success at the council. The council is an advisory body in place to provide advice to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

How are we going to measure if it is successful?

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Give a short answer, please, Ms. Lattimore.

[Michelle Lattimore]

Success at the council this year will reflect the council's work to engage with members of ELCC communities across Canada. It will engage even with the for-profit sector to ensure that the advice that it is providing to the minister on the workforce challenges—I mentioned that it's been tasked with that as its primary priority right now—is reflective of the diverse experience and views of Canadians across the country.

[The Chair, Liberal, Bobby Morrissey]

Thank you, Madam Ferreri.

The meeting is adjourned.