I can tell you that I am just so delighted and we were so pleased to hear you say the obvious, and that is that companies and organizations have a role to play in training their workers.
Also, you mentioned the OECD report. I was reading the same report. It was quite a shocker to me that the private sector in Canada is at the bottom for reinvesting in training and skills development of its workforce. I think those are obviously things we need to address, as well as the wages, the salaries.
I've talked to some employers, too, Minister, because I feel that I need to really get in and hear what their concerns are. When you start discussing with them what they're paying for some of those jobs and the area that the jobs are being offered in, I want to say to them: “Would you be able to make a living off this? Do you have to wonder why people are not applying?”
I really want to talk about good, quality child care. I know it's something that's really close to your heart, Minister. In this area, when we think of our children and our future, quality child care has social, economic, and health benefits for children and the parents, but I would say that it has a greater impact on our overall economy, and the economic gains should not be underestimated.
There is proven evidence that a quality child care program actually gives the economy a boost, not only in the jobs it creates, but also in that you have fewer people who will take time off because their children are sick. People are more comfortable at work. They are not stressed out and worried about their children. Also, more people are able to re-enter the workforce because they can find quality day care.
Yet government spending on early learning and child care in Canada falls far short of that in other OECD countries. I'm glad we mentioned the OECD earlier as well. Is it within your upcoming plans to work with the provinces and territories to make child care a priority?