Evidence of meeting #61 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was services.
A recording is available from Parliament.
10:10 a.m.
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Great. Thank you very much.
I am from British Columbia like you. Do you have any idea what the waiting lists are like in British Columbia?
10:10 a.m.
Executive Director, Early Childhood Educators of British Columbia
For child care, it really depends on each community, but for specific age groups it can be up to two to three years.
10:10 a.m.
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Okay, so that's the wait time.
Do you know how many children are on a wait-list right now? Do you have any numbers there? Do you also know if there's a difference between urban and rural, for a breakdown?
10:10 a.m.
Executive Director, Early Childhood Educators of British Columbia
There's definitely a difference depending on what kinds of programs and services are offered in particular rural and urban communities. Do I have the numbers at my fingertips? Not right at this moment, but I can pass that on.
10:10 a.m.
Conservative
Tracy Gray Conservative Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Great. Thank you.
Would you please table for this committee what those numbers are, both with the times and also the number of children who are on wait-lists. If you could table whatever details you have for this committee, we would really appreciate it.
I will actually now cede my time to my colleague, Ms. Ferreri.
10:10 a.m.
Conservative
Michelle Ferreri Conservative Peterborough—Kawartha, ON
Thank you so much.
Leila, I really appreciate your advocacy around poverty. One thing that's written in this bill currently says parents of “varying incomes”. We're seeing actually people, women in particular, who need access to affordable child care pushed back to the back of the list. Do you have current numbers of low-income people or those on the poverty line who are on waiting lists for $10-a-day day care?
10:15 a.m.
National Director, Campaign 2000
I do not have that, but I am happy to see if I can find that and submit it to the committee.
10:15 a.m.
Conservative
Michelle Ferreri Conservative Peterborough—Kawartha, ON
I think that would be wonderful, because one of the witnesses, who we're hopefully going to get back, was supposed to testify last night and has shared this. By no fault of their own, there are many people who've done financially well, and they don't need subsidized child care. They can afford it, but they have a space, and they're taking up this space in these places when you have families who are struggling. They need to go to work. If they don't go to work, they can't pay their bills. They're pushed to the back of the line for the subsidized spaces.
Do you think the bill needs to be strengthened to include or to prioritize those who are on lower incomes?
10:15 a.m.
National Director, Campaign 2000
We do absolutely believe...and have made some very specific recommendations for the guiding principles. We've actually rewritten that section that you refer to to ensure that all families, “families of all incomes, including low incomes, benefit from affordable early learning and child care.”
Part of the issue is that these low-income families face barriers to even getting on the wait-lists, so these are things that need to be really targeted as we're developing a universal system.
10:15 a.m.
Conservative
Michelle Ferreri Conservative Peterborough—Kawartha, ON
Okay, thank you. I'll just leave it at that.
10:15 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Thank you, Ms. Ferreri.
We have Mr. Van Bynen for five minutes, please.
10:15 a.m.
Liberal
Tony Van Bynen Liberal Newmarket—Aurora, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
This has been a very interesting learning experience. As a grandfather of five, most of whom are teenagers, this hasn't been a top-of-mind issue for me. It has been quite refreshing to hear the information. I'm particularly taken by the huge backlog we're seeing, the need for child care and how we need to go forward to make sure we implement this quickly and effectively.
My question is for Mr. Smith as he is on the expert panel for the government.
I'd like to get an understanding of what your learnings have been and what your advice would be. I know the bill provides for a national advisory council. The description of the mandate is fairly broad and not as well-defined as I would like to see in a mandate. My concerns are around quality, sustainability, growth and expansion planning for the program in the long term.
What are the provisions you would like to see in the mandate for the federal government's national advisory council to ensure this fits within its authorities?
10:15 a.m.
Associate Executive Director, Muttart Foundation
As a member of the advisory council, I'm not able to comment specifically on the work of the advisory council. It's very important that a national advisory council be in place. I would turn to my colleagues and ask their advice and direction on how they think that might best be expressed in legislation.
What I would point to, quite critically, is the difference between federal legislation and provincial and territorial areas of jurisdiction. When we look at the agreements that the Government of Canada has negotiated with the provinces and territories, it's absolutely critical those agreements provide for the provision of expansion of services in ways that meet community needs, particularly with respect to the questions arising around the workforce. I would anticipate that, in the next round of action plans, every one of those action plans should put workforce as the number one priority.
I apologize that I'm not able to speak about the national advisory council.
10:15 a.m.
Liberal
Tony Van Bynen Liberal Newmarket—Aurora, ON
It's evident that the focus needs to be on quality care for children. That's an essential part. Can you, in your capacity as an expert witness, tell me what the key elements of high-quality child care are, how that can be measured and how that can be monitored? What role can the federal government play to ensure those measures are attained or sustained?
10:15 a.m.
Associate Executive Director, Muttart Foundation
The research literature on quality is complex. If I was trying to summarize it in a way that is short and brief, the key element of quality is the educational preparation and the working conditions of the early childhood educator who's working with children in the room.
When we look at the research, that's what we come back to. What is the nature of the qualification for that educator, and how is she prepared and supported in her important role? I would anticipate, in the bilateral agreements, particular attention would be paid to ensuring that early childhood educators are properly paid, fairly compensated and educationally prepared for their work.
The central element to quality is the educator and her interactions with children.
10:20 a.m.
Liberal
Tony Van Bynen Liberal Newmarket—Aurora, ON
Thank you.
I'll cede the balance of my time. My questions have been answered, Mr. Chair.
10:20 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Thank you, Mr. Van Bynen.
We'll now go to Madam Bérubé.
Ms. Bérubé, you have the floor for five minutes.
10:20 a.m.
Bloc
Sylvie Bérubé Bloc Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thanks to the witnesses for being here with the committee.
Ms. Gawlick, we hear about the huge challenges experienced by families in rural and remote regions when it comes to accessing child care.
What should Bill C-35 provide, in your opinion? Do you think it should provide targeted support for families in rural or remote regions to meet their needs?
10:20 a.m.
Executive Director, Early Childhood Educators of British Columbia
Absolutely. We need to look at the different jurisdictions where child care is needed and have specific targets and transitions for those communities as well.
10:20 a.m.
Bloc
10:20 a.m.
Executive Director, Early Childhood Educators of British Columbia
From our perspective, the long-term goal is to ensure that all children and families have access to high-quality child care in the communities in which they choose to live and work.
10:20 a.m.
Bloc
Sylvie Bérubé Bloc Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
Thank you, Ms. Gawlick.
Mr. Smith, what does the bill do to provide targeted support to help children with disabilities or families with diverse needs?
10:20 a.m.
Associate Executive Director, Muttart Foundation
Thank you for the question.
I think it's critical that, in the preamble to the bill, reference is made to support for children with disabilities and the recognition of our obligations under international treaties. The overarching legislation should speak specifically to the equitable access for all children and families, regardless of where they live, their incomes and their levels of ability. Then the real action, if you'd like, in terms of ensuring equitable access takes place in the bilateral agreements that are negotiated with the provinces and territories.