I will say very briefly that there is a cost involved and that it is society’s choice. We make the choice, yes or no, and that costs something. In Quebec, it costs $1.5 billion a year. Relatively speaking, in Canada, we can already estimate what it is going to cost. It is a choice, like the one made to dedicate $17.5 billion to military equipment. This is a choice that was made without any consultation, without any debate like the one we are having right now about children. It is a special choice, therefore.
My question is addressed to each of you, but perhaps more particularly to the Canadian Union of Public Employees and the Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada. I have perused your briefs, and they do not look to me to be complete enough. This comment is not directed only at you, though. As far as the development of private businesses is concerned, one aspect of the bill gives me some sense of security, and it is the fact that the door has been closed on the later development of private day care centres.
In Quebec, there is a moratorium on private day care centres. Those that already exist are also subject to rules of quality, accessibility and universality. They are highly controlled. When the legislation was amended, it was noted that the for-profit day care organizations were watching very closely. As soon as the Quebec government amended the act last year, in two locations, Sherbrooke and Montreal’s South Shore, two large American organizations were watching like hawks. Do you consider that this bill has what it takes to guarantee our safety regarding commercialization of the system? If not, what is this bill lacking?