Mr. Speaker, I am not quite sure which of the member's many questions I am supposed to answer. I would address some of the misconceptions raised.
I mentioned a few moments ago that I am working with the provinces to try to make sure that people are not impoverished by this program. With respect to benefits from any assistance programs, be they federal or provincial, that people receive now and for which they are now eligible, we want to make sure that people do not lose those benefits. We truly want this to be a universal benefit.
Our $1,200 choice in child care allowance was never intended to be 100% subsidized child care. That was not the plan from the start. This was well thought out. What we want to do is help parents get the resources they need to make the choice for child care that best meets their needs. We are very cognizant of the differences between the federal jurisdiction and the provincial jurisdiction. We have long said that the federal government wants to stay out of provincial affairs, unlike the previous government that not only meddled in provincial affairs, but municipal as well.
No, we are the federal government. We want to act federally. Our role as the federal government is to support parents and give them the resources they need to make the choices that best meet their needs, but it is the responsibility of the provinces and territories for the delivery of child care.