Mr. Speaker, the red book says: "Canadians with young families need a support system that enables parents to participate fully in the economic life of the country. That is why the availability of child care is an economic issue".
That is what the red book says. That is what the government promised the people of Canada. However, was child care even mentioned in the budget? Not a word. Now with the decision to proceed with block funding to the provinces, the federal government relinquishes what little influence it has to encourage the provinces to invest in child care.
Also, by slashing billions of dollars from provincial transfers, the government has reduced the ability of the provinces to offer quality child care. This is tragic. What does this say about a country that has turned its back on its children?
Children are our future. Young people are our future. Was the term youth even mentioned in the budget? Unfortunately not. Foreign bond traders and currency speculators may be happy with the budget, but what has the government done to our children and our youth, especially those in need?