Bill C-311 (Historical)

Early Learning and Child Care Act

An Act respecting early learning and child care

This enactment establishes conditions in respect of early learning and child care programs that must be met before transfer payments may be made by the Government of Canada to a province in support of such 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.

Early Learning and Child Care Act

[Lindsay Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-311, An Act respecting early learning and child care.

Madam 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 child care across the country. Families are struggling to find child care spaces and get on wait lists before their children are even born. Costs are unaffordable in many cities and parents are forced to make impossible choices between delaying their return to work or paying huge amounts for the child care that they need. Liberals have promised an affordable universal child care program for 28 years without action, and women, taking on much of the care work, have been disproportionately impacted by their delay.

Budget 2021 has made several promises and is finally moving forward with establishing a child care program. However, there is still a lack of critical details. I am tabling this bill today to establish the core principles of a universal 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 in moving child care forward. It is too important not to get right.

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