Thank you very much.
Mr. Thompson, in her report, the Auditor General asks Employment and Social Development Canada to do more follow-up. The fact remains that, in Quebec, the early childhood centre program is entirely a provincial responsibility. The unconditional transfer of federal funds has worked remarkably well. The data proves it.
Speaking of data, I'd like to point out that Quebec's ministry of families dashboard lists subsidized and non-subsidized spaces in early childhood centres and family day care centres.
I would like to pick up on my colleague Mrs. Goodridge's idea. In our opinion, if there are five unsubsidized spaces in a day care centre, and we have access to public funds, this increases the number of spaces from five to six. Indeed, we now have the money to hire a new person. Each time, one more child will be able to enter the public system. We even keep track of how many children are on a waiting list and how many pregnant women are registered.
In the answer just given, I understand the donors' desire to have access to data and to know precisely how the money has been used. However, I'm still very concerned and vigilant, because trusting the provinces is a reflex that almost never exists at the federal level.
Isn't it dangerous to add a layer of bureaucracy when each province is asked to provide specific, uniform elements?
Earlier, you mentioned how difficult it was for the federal government to trust the provinces when it came to administering funds.
Do you still have the will to trust the provinces?