This bill has received Royal Assent and is now law.
Summary
This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament has also written a full legislative summary of the bill.
This enactment sets out the Government of Canada’s vision for a Canada-wide early learning and child care system. It also sets out the Government of Canada’s commitment to maintaining long-term funding relating to early learning and child care to be provided to the provinces and Indigenous peoples. Finally, it creates the National Advisory Council on Early Learning and Child Care.
Elsewhere
All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.
Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-35s:
This is a computer-generated summary of the speeches below.
Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Bill C-35 aims to create a Canada-wide early learning and child care system by enshrining long-term federal funding commitments and establishing guiding principles such as accessibility, affordability, inclusivity, and high quality. It seeks to build upon existing agreements with provinces, territories, and indigenous communities, while respecting their jurisdiction in the design and delivery of child care services. The legislation also proposes the creation of a national advisory council and requires annual public reporting on the system's progress.
Liberal
Supports national childcare system: The Liberal Party supports Bill C-35, aiming to establish a Canada-wide early learning and child care system. They view it as crucial for families, children, women, and the economy, reinforcing the federal government’s commitment to long-term funding and collaboration with provinces, territories, and indigenous partners.
Economic benefits: The party emphasizes the economic benefits of the bill, highlighting that investments in child care yield broader economic returns. A Canada-wide system could raise real GDP by up to 1.2% over two decades and improve gender equality and family-friendly policies.
Reduces financial burden: Speakers share stories of families benefiting from reduced child care fees, enabling parents to return to work and alleviate financial stress. The goal is to make child care more affordable and accessible, aiming for an average of $10-a-day regulated early learning and child care by March 2026.
Long-term commitment: The party aims to provide stability, predictability, and commitment to provinces, territories, indigenous peoples, parents, families, child care providers, and educators through the bill. It seeks to prevent future governments from dismantling the system, referencing past instances of child care agreement cancellations.
Conservative
Limited choice for families: The Conservatives argue Bill C-35 restricts choices by focusing on public and non-profit child care, excluding families who prefer home care, grandparents, or private daycares. They believe every family should have the freedom to choose the best option for their unique circumstances.
Doesn't address key issues: Members state that Bill C-35 fails to address critical issues such as staff shortages, long waitlists, and the needs of parents with non-standard work schedules. They also raised concerns about affordability, particularly for low-income families, and the potential for the bill to subsidize wealthier families instead.
Concerns over sustainability: The Conservatives express skepticism about the long-term sustainability of the program, citing a committed shortfall in funding and a lack of details on how the promised benefits will be delivered. They question the government's ability to manage the program effectively and express concerns about potential waste and mismanagement of funds.
Ignores private operators: Members contend that the bill disregards private child care operators, many of whom are women entrepreneurs, and excludes them from the national advisory council. They believe private operators are essential to meeting demand and providing choice for families, and that the bill's focus on public and non-profit centers will create a two-tiered system.
NDP
Supports the bill: The NDP supports Bill C-35 and recognizes the decades of advocacy by feminists, trade unionists, child care workers, and others who fought for a national child care system. NDP members are proud to support this bill, which will help ensure parents across Canada can access affordable, accessible, and high-quality child care.
Pushed for key provisions: The NDP successfully pushed for the inclusion of international human rights conventions and declarations that enshrine access to child care as a human right. The bill also prioritizes child care programs and services offered by public and not-for-profit providers, leading to better wages and working conditions for staff.
Decent work for staff: The NDP seeks to strengthen the bill by adding an explicit commitment to decent work for child care staff, including fair wages and benefits. They also call for the federal government to develop a workforce strategy to address staffing shortages in the sector.
Accountability and transparency: The NDP aims to improve the bill by including stronger accountability mechanisms to ensure that the provisions are followed and commitments are upheld. They seek more detailed reporting requirements, including specific metrics such as new spaces built and child care workers hired.
Bloc
Supports the bill in principle: The Bloc Québécois supports Bill C-35 in principle because they agree with the overall goal of affordable childcare and the bill excludes Quebec from the federal family policy for the next five years. However, they find the bill ambiguous and have some concerns about it.
Respect provincial jurisdiction: The Bloc believes the bill infringes on provincial jurisdiction over education and family policy, as outlined in the Constitution. They are concerned that the federal government's framework, while well-intentioned, is based on the federal government's spending power, which Quebec does not consider legitimate.
Quebec as a pioneer: The Bloc emphasized Quebec's leadership in childcare services, noting its long-standing family policy and its recognition as a model for success by international organizations. They highlight that the bill's compensation to Quebec for opting out acknowledges Quebec's aversion to federal meddling in its jurisdiction.
Demand opt-out clause: The Bloc wants the bill to include a clause that explicitly allows Quebec to unconditionally opt out of the program with full compensation, similar to a previous bill (C-303). They argue this is essential to reflect Quebec's distinct view on federal-provincial relations and to prevent future disputes over federal interference in Quebec's jurisdiction.
It being 3:16 p.m., pursuant to order made on Thursday, June 23, 2022, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at the second reading stage of Bill C-35.
Call in the members.
Links & Sharing
(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)
Accordingly, the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.
(Bill read the second time and referred to a committee)
