Human Resources Committee on Dec. 8th, 2020

[Catherine Adam]

We have heard from numerous stakeholders, including parents, about the importance of high-quality, affordable accessible child care.

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

We're aware that for single parents and certainly, in my family, where both my parents passed before my children were born, not everybody has a grandparent to hand a child to so that they can go to work. This is especially true for single parents and especially immigrant families, whose extended family may not even be in the country.

That's one reason that structured child care needs to be presented as a choice. It's so that families can make the choice that suits them best. That's why we're building a child care system. Is that not right?

[Catherine Adam]

What we do know is that there are families across Canada in a multitude of differing situations: newcomers, low-income families, middle-class families living in centres where child care is highly expensive or those in child care deserts where there are simply not enough spaces. There is a wide variety of pressures that families are facing.

We are certainly working with provinces and territories, looking for ways to respond.

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

There are young children with developmental disabilities, with physical disabilities, with autism, with a whole spectrum of needs for whom, if you don't get them into quality child care early, professionals don't have the capacity to provide services to help them develop and attain the highest quality of life and performance in their lives.

That's another reason that structured and regulated child care is so critical. It's to make sure that the most vulnerable children in our communities get the additional support they couldn't get from their families but need in order to live full lives.

[Catherine Adam]

A number of research studies point to exactly what the honourable member has just stated, yes.

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

When we make dollars available to the provinces, they have the option to opt out and not receive those dollars and not extend child care to vulnerable families in their communities.

The other side of it is that when we put federal dollars into the system, we expect certain standards to be met in terms of child-to-teacher ratio, in terms of training, in terms of quality, to make sure that our children are safe. Studies have shown that unregulated child care is actually dangerous for children and their lives, and regulated child care ensures that a much higher percentage of kids are kept safe in an environment in which parents can trust that their kids will be properly cared for.

That's another reason that structured and high-quality child care that is affordable is such a fundamental way to make sure that everybody has a choice in this society, in contrast with simply hoping that parents can take care of their child.

Is that not why we are also looking at exploring and funding child care across the country, including early learning?

[Catherine Adam]

In 2017, all provinces and territories signed the multilateral framework, other than Quebec, which agreed in principle.

In that framework there are sections that deal with exactly what you are speaking to, the inclusivity, which is the way we ensure that all children...and provinces and territories also believe this. The multilateral framework is an important piece. All children—

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

We also know that the indigenous community wants an indigenous-led and a culturally significant and specific child care approach, to ensure that their family structure and their culture are appropriately delivered. That also requires federal dollars because it's a federal responsibility right across the country.

[Catherine Adam]

Yes, and in 2018 the federal government worked with all three distinction-based groups and also with urban indigenous people on a codeveloped indigenous early learning and child care framework that spells out for each of the distinction groups their community's aspirations for their children. It speaks to the necessity of culturally appropriate child care with highly trained ECE workers who have curricula that are adapted to aboriginal children and are culturally sensitive.

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

I have one last question.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Thank you very much, Mr. Vaughan. That's all the time we have for questions, because we do have a bit of committee business.

Witnesses, could you just stand by for one second?

Colleagues, almost exactly two hours ago, you would have received from the clerk a proposed budget for the urban, rural and northern indigenous housing study. I'll give you a minute to pull up that budget.

To all the witnesses, I really hope you enjoyed your time here this evening. I hope some of you enjoyed it so much that you'll come back and join us again on Thursday. For those of you who aren't so fortunate as to be with us on Thursday, I'll take this opportunity to thank you for your support over this session in appearing before the committee. This has been one crazy year where there have been very high demands and expectations of you. To all of you, I hope that over the next little while you'll get some time with the people you love, and if we don't see you on Thursday, I'm sure we'll see you in February. Thank you so much for being with us.

Colleagues, hopefully now you have in front of you the budget for the urban, rural and northern indigenous housing study. It's probably one of the smaller budgets that you will see, but I would be happy to entertain a motion for its adoption.

[Adam Vaughan, Liberal, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

I move the adoption of the budget.

[The Chair, Liberal, Sean Casey]

Mr. Kent beat you to it.

Is there any discussion? There is consensus all around.

(Motion agreed to)

There being no further business to come before this meeting, I declare the meeting adjourned.