Bill C-35 (Historical)

Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act

An Act respecting early learning and child care in Canada

This bill is from the 44th Parliament, 1st session, which ended in January 2025.

Sponsor

Karina Gould Liberal

Status

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:

C-35 (2021) Canada Disability Benefit Act

C-35 (2016) Law Appropriation Act No. 4, 2016-17

C-35 (2014) Law Justice for Animals in Service Act (Quanto's Law)

C-35 (2012) Law Appropriation Act No. 1, 2012-13

Votes

Feb. 29, 2024 Passed Motion for closure

June 19, 2023 Passed 3rd reading and adoption of Bill C-35, An Act respecting early learning and child care in Canada

June 12, 2023 Passed Concurrence at report stage of Bill C-35, An Act respecting early learning and child care in Canada

June 12, 2023 Failed Bill C-35, An Act respecting early learning and child care in Canada (report stage amendment)

June 6, 2023 Passed Time allocation for Bill C-35, An Act respecting early learning and child care in Canada

Feb. 1, 2023 Passed 2nd reading of Bill C-35, An Act respecting early learning and child care in Canada

Debate Summary

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.

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Canada Early Learning and Child Care ActGovernment Orders

January 30th, 2023 / 5:10 p.m.

Conservative

Frank Caputo Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC

Madam Speaker, it is always a pleasure to rise on behalf of the people of Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo. Before I begin, I want to recognize a constituent who recently passed away, Mrs. Kathie Lock. She was the secretary at my elementary school, and I graduated elementary school with her daughter. I wish her family all the best and want to express my condolences in this difficult time. May perpetual light shine upon her.

The parliamentary secretary just spoke about the feminist Prime Minister. We only need to consult people like Jody Wilson-Raybould, Jane Philpott and others who have spoken out to find out whether that is actually the case.

Does the parliamentary secretary support the fact that we should be supporting all parents, like my parents? My father was a shift worker and my mom was a homemaker. Will the parliamentary secretary commit here and now to supporting those people, not just people who work nine to five?

Canada Early Learning and Child Care ActGovernment Orders

January 30th, 2023 / 5:15 p.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

Madam Speaker, I thought I was being very clear about the legislation and what it would do. It would put into law principles to ensure accessibility, affordability, inclusivity and high-quality child care and early learning. I truly believe that through the financial commitments this government has put in place and through working with provinces, territories and indigenous communities, we will make child care and early learning available for all.

Canada Early Learning and Child Care ActGovernment Orders

January 30th, 2023 / 5:15 p.m.

Bloc

Monique Pauzé Bloc Repentigny, QC

Madam Speaker, there was a joint meeting between the Prime Minister of Canada and Premier of Quebec on the issue of compensation. That is great, and we are happy, but why was this not included in the bill? The Prime Minister of Canada said that the federal government would continue to help Quebec, but what will actually happen in five years? Why can it not be written directly into the bill?

Canada Early Learning and Child Care ActGovernment Orders

January 30th, 2023 / 5:15 p.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

Madam Speaker, as we try to figure out where the different political parties are on the principles of the legislation, hopefully it will pass sooner as opposed to later. I think a lot will depend on the Conservative Party's positioning on the legislation, but it will go to committee.

The member might want to take up her question with the minister responsible for the legislation. I am sure that at the committee stage she will be able to get a more detailed answer than I would be able to provide her at this time.

Canada Early Learning and Child Care ActGovernment Orders

January 30th, 2023 / 5:15 p.m.

NDP

Laurel Collins NDP Victoria, BC

Madam Speaker, every parent should have access to quality, affordable child care when they need it.

The Liberals promised national child care almost 30 years ago, and for decades families have been struggling to afford child care, struggling to find child care and sometimes paying more than their rent or mortgage to ensure their kids are taken care of. I am so glad to see both the current funding commitments and this legislation for the future.

With the federal financial commitments, B.C. has been investing in reducing costs, creating more spaces and recruiting more early childhood educators. That is my home province. The member is from Manitoba, and Manitoba is the only province that has not seen an average reduction in child care fees.

I am curious if the member agrees that we need to see stronger accountability measures so that we actually guarantee that families are going to see a reduction in costs.

Canada Early Learning and Child Care ActGovernment Orders

January 30th, 2023 / 5:15 p.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

Madam Speaker, the short answer is that I am absolutely confident there will be a reduction in fees in the province of Manitoba. I could not say right offhand, but I would be very surprised if that was not the case. With regard to the Liberal Party and its history, unfortunately the first time we had agreements that were signed off for child care was back in Paul Martin—

Canada Early Learning and Child Care ActGovernment Orders

January 30th, 2023 / 5:15 p.m.

NDP

Laurel Collins NDP Victoria, BC

The first time you promised it was 1993. I was nine.

Canada Early Learning and Child Care ActGovernment Orders

January 30th, 2023 / 5:15 p.m.

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Carol Hughes

Order. I want to remind the hon. member for Victoria that she had an opportunity to ask a question. If she has another one, she needs to wait for an opportunity to ask it.

The hon. parliamentary secretary can finish off before I go to the next question.

Canada Early Learning and Child Care ActGovernment Orders

January 30th, 2023 / 5:15 p.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

Madam Speaker, not only do we have agreements once again with all the provinces, territories and indigenous leaders, but now today we are debating principles and putting them into legislation to ensure we are going to have them for future generations.

Canada Early Learning and Child Care ActGovernment Orders

January 30th, 2023 / 5:15 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Madam Speaker, I hear calls around me of revisionist history. This is the history; I remember it like it was yesterday.

On November 28, 2005, we had signed child care agreements from every province with the federal government, stickhandled, which is a good use of the term, by Ken Dryden, who was the minister at the time and a former hockey great. That was part of a package of things that had been accomplished, including a plan for Kyoto that would have gotten us very near our Kyoto targets. We could have avoided Fiona if November 28, 2005, had not happened. There was also the Kelowna Accord. This was all agreed to, and tragically my friend Jack Layton, whom I loved, decided it was better to bring down Paul Martin's minority government and turn the country over to Stephen Harper, and we lost child care.

Martha Friendly, child care advocate, will back up every word I just said. We had been working together on it.

Canada Early Learning and Child Care ActGovernment Orders

January 30th, 2023 / 5:20 p.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

Madam Speaker, I would like to extend my answer a bit beyond that to the current leader of the Conservative Party. I made reference to the fact that he boasted about the cancellation of child care programs, and I suspect those are some of the child care programs he was referring to when boasting. That is why we should all be concerned with regard to what I would suggest is a hidden agenda within the Conservative Party, which does not support the type of child care that I believe, and we in the Liberal caucus believe, Canadians want to see.

Canada Early Learning and Child Care ActGovernment Orders

January 30th, 2023 / 5:20 p.m.

Liberal

Sonia Sidhu Liberal Brampton South, ON

Madam Speaker, when I met with residents, I met with women and heard positive feedback. They love the child care idea. We saw that, and there are stats out there. When women get into a second career and go back to the workforce—

Canada Early Learning and Child Care ActGovernment Orders

January 30th, 2023 / 5:20 p.m.

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Carol Hughes

I want to ask the hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands and I believe the hon. member for Victoria or the hon. member for London—Fanshawe, as there are some side conversations happening, to take them outside so that the hon. member for Brampton South can be heard.

The hon. member for Brampton South.

Canada Early Learning and Child Care ActGovernment Orders

January 30th, 2023 / 5:20 p.m.

Liberal

Sonia Sidhu Liberal Brampton South, ON

Madam Speaker, more women are getting back into the workforce and starting their second career. I am wondering if the hon. member can expand on how this bill supports economic growth and women who are going back to a second career. Can the member explain that?

Canada Early Learning and Child Care ActGovernment Orders

January 30th, 2023 / 5:20 p.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

Madam Speaker, as I indicated earlier, within the Liberal caucus there is a great sense of accomplishment on this particular file. We understand that there is a lot more to do, but I can tell the member that when we reach out to our constituents and talk to some of the child care workers and some of the parents, there is a high sense of excitement. That is why I believe this is sound legislation that should be supported by all parties of the House.

If we believe in the importance of accessibility, affordability, inclusivity and high-quality child care, then this is good legislation that will enshrine the principles of those things into law. We can then continue to work with our constituents to ensure that more jobs are created. Also, there is going to be more opportunity and more free time for people to get involved in the workforce, in volunteer work and in many other activities.