Yes, we invited the provinces. Not one province came forward and said “Yes, we want to build this program with you”. After a time, the money was set aside from that program because no one stepped up to the plate to use it. That is what happened to the 150,000 spaces that were suggested in the red book.
Our Speech from the Throne in the fall indicated that this government has no higher priority as a government than children. But that statement does not lead directly to the establishment of a national child care system.
We recognize that while parents have the primary responsibility for the care of their children, raising the next generation is everyone's concern. We know that early childhood development and care is essential to raising healthy children. That is why early childhood development is a key theme in the national children's agenda through which—