But with respect, Minister, I would like it if you could give this committee the specific number of spaces that businesses have actually created in child care. It's my understanding that there has not been much, if anything at all, in that area.
The other thing is that, after taxes, the universal child benefit does not provide anything approaching the necessity of what it costs for child care, especially for families who need it and especially in this environment. After taxes, this comes down to about $50 a month. I have been talking to families this last week who've come to me. One family is spending $1,300 per child on their child care. One woman broke down and cried because she couldn't find space and her only option was to quit her job because there were no spaces available; there's a two-year waiting list.
So the categories in the budget are somewhat misleading. It talks about early learning and child care, when in fact we've got the benefit, which isn't that; we've got the deduction, which is fine, but you need money in order to deduct. So it doesn't create spaces. And then of course the child tax credit is even more bizarre because it's an income program, not a child care program.
So I would suggest that your documents be redone in the next budget to make it clear. I would like you to tell this committee, if you could, exactly how many spaces have been created by the $250 million transfer and how many have been created by the business community.