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 establish a Canada-wide early learning and child care system through federal funding and collaboration with provinces and territories. It seeks to ensure affordable, accessible, high-quality, and inclusive child care, guided by principles outlined in the bill. A national advisory council would be created to support the implementation and goals of the act.
Liberal
Strong support for bill C-35: The Liberal speakers voiced strong support for Bill C-35, emphasizing its role in establishing a Canada-wide early learning and child care system. They highlighted the bill's potential to ensure that affordable, accessible, high-quality, and inclusive child care is available to families across the country, comparing it in significance to the Canada Health Act.
Affordability is key: Liberals emphasized that affordable child care is life-changing for Canadian families, enabling parents to afford necessities and increasing women's participation in the workforce. They noted the success of Quebec's early learning and child care system as a model.
Addresses labour shortage: Speakers argued the bill addresses the labour shortage by enabling more parents, especially women, to enter the workforce. They cited estimates showing a significant return on investment, boosting the GDP and providing economic benefits.
Protecting the program: Liberals highlighted the importance of the bill in protecting the national child care program from potential future cuts by other parties. They contrasted their commitment to the program with the Conservative Party's past actions, such as the cancellation of child care agreements in 2006, and what they characterized as current opposition to affordable child care.
Conservative
Not truly universal: Conservative speakers repeatedly emphasized that the bill does not address the needs of all families, particularly those in rural areas and those who prefer alternative child care arrangements. Several speakers noted that over half the children in Canada live in 'child care deserts' and would not benefit from the bill.
Lack of choice: Members argued that the bill restricts parental choice by prioritizing government and not-for-profit spaces over private and home-based care. They criticized the Liberal-NDP coalition for rejecting amendments aimed at including all types of child care providers and giving parents the freedom to choose what works best for their families.
Addresses wrong priorities: Speakers contended that the bill focuses on affordability while neglecting more pressing issues such as accessibility and availability of child care spaces. They highlighted long wait-lists, labor shortages, and the failure to address the needs of shift workers and families with unique circumstances.
Inequitable access: Several speakers criticized the bill for creating a two-tiered system where families who can afford more expensive care have more options, while those who cannot may receive substandard care. They expressed concern that the bill does not target lower-income families effectively and may even disadvantage them.
No strategy for workforce: Many speakers pointed out that the bill fails to address the labor shortage in the child care sector. They noted that the Liberal-NDP coalition rejected amendments aimed at supporting the recruitment and retention of qualified early childhood educators, undermining the long-term viability of the child care system.
NDP
Supports Bill C-35: The NDP supports Bill C-35, the Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act, and urges all parties to pass it. They believe this bill is an important step towards building a permanent national system of $10-a-day child care and enshrining the agreements into legislation so that future governments cannot easily reverse the policy.
Improved by NDP amendments: The NDP is proud to have improved the bill through amendments that include stronger reporting requirements, more inclusive language for children with disabilities and those from official language minority communities, recognition of the impact of working conditions on care, and upholding indigenous peoples' right to free, prior and informed consent.
Prioritize non-profit/public: The NDP supports the explicit prioritization of non-profit and public child care for federal funding, and hopes to stop federal money being used to expand for-profit child care. The party believes that public money should be invested in public institutions, because it is better for workers and children.
Child care workforce crisis: The NDP emphasizes the child care workforce crisis, with workers receiving inadequate wages and benefits, and enduring difficult working conditions. They assert that unless these issues are addressed, the success of a national child care system is at risk and call for a clear strategy to ensure an increase of those working in child care. Without them, we will never see improvements for generations to come.
Bloc
Supports the bill: The Bloc supports Bill C-35, despite concerns about federal overreach into provincial jurisdiction. They acknowledge the bill excludes Quebec from federal family policy for five years and provides compensation.
Quebec's leadership: The Bloc emphasizes Quebec's established and successful early childhood education model, which they believe should be recognized and respected. They argue the federal government should not impose conditions on Quebec, especially since the province's program is being used as a model.
Protecting provincial jurisdiction: The Bloc stresses that education and family policies are provincial responsibilities and opposes federal interference. They express concern that the bill does not adequately protect Quebec's right to opt out of the federal program with full compensation and manage its own policies.
Missed opportunities: The Bloc feels the bill should have incorporated Quebec's expertise and allowed the province to fully opt out with financial compensation, but amendments to that effect were rejected. Members expressed disappointment that Quebec's role was relegated to the preamble of the bill.
Independent
Accessibility concerns: The bill does not address accessibility and may not deliver on its promises. The $10-a-day child care plan does little to address labour shortages and the lack of child care spaces, potentially not helping families on waitlists or operators lacking staff and infrastructure.
Discrimination against women: The bill is discriminatory towards women, as it prevents growth opportunities for privately run female child care operators. The bill also fails to address how more women can return to work when there are no child care spots available and waitlists are years long.
Address labour shortages: There are not enough qualified staff to keep existing child care centers running at full capacity, let alone operate new spaces. Not enough students enter the ECE programs across Canada to support any growth, and it remains difficult to retain staff without the financial incentive to work in the field.
Need for inclusivity: The bill can be improved by making it more inclusive, deleting references to public and not-for-profit child care providers, and considering guidance for advisory council members to avoid conflicts of interest. Additional specificity surrounding the composition of the advisory council with respect to regional representation as well as representation by female entrepreneurs and those involved in the direct delivery of licensed child care services should be considered.
Green
Strong support for Bill C-35: The bill aims to establish a system of early learning and child care to promote the development of young children, addressing the need for accessible, affordable, inclusive, and high-quality child care.
Need to improve worker compensation: While supportive, there are concerns about the insufficient payment for child care workers, and ensuring that early learning and child care educators are recognized and properly compensated is critical.
Government gamesmanship: There is criticism of the government's use of time allocation and the broader parliamentary process, where partisan gamesmanship and the reading of prepared speeches detract from meaningful debate on important legislation like Bill C-35.
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 report stage of Bill C-35.
The question is on Motion No. 1.
Links & Sharing
(The House divided on Motion No. 1, which was negatived on the following division:)
If a member of a recognized party present in the House wishes that the motion be carried or carried on division or wishes to request a recorded division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.
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Canada Early Learning and Child Care ActGovernment Orders
