Ken Dryden

[Social Development, November 1st, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said to the House many times before, there is plenty of flexibility in all the agreements that have been signed. There are eight agreements that have been signed now, including with jurisdictions that have a significant rural and remote population, as New Brunswick does.

I would ask the hon. member to check the amount of money that the Government of Quebec has spent on early learning and child care in each of these last number of years and the amount of money that the province of New Brunswick also has spent toward early learning and child care. The difference is very dramatic.

[Telecommunications Act, October 24th, 2005]

moved that Bill C-37, An Act to amend the Telecommunications Act, be read the third time and passed.

[National Child Benefit, October 7th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the National Child Benefit Progress Report: 2003, in response to a recommendation contained in the November 1999 first report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts on Human Resources Development Canada.

[Social Development, October 7th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, as the House knows, last week we signed an agreement with the province of British Columbia, the seventh provincial agreement we have signed.

Money is already flowing to all of the provinces and all of the territories under a trust fund this year. That money represents, even at this particular moment, a 40% increase in what all levels of government are spending on child care within the country. It gives the opportunity for much more affordable child care, a much higher quality child care, and the ability to deliver child care--

[Social Development, October 3rd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I was very pleased to be in Vancouver last Thursday with the Prime Minister to sign the agreement with the Province of British Columbia. It means an additional $633 million for early learning and child care for the Province of British Columbia .

To put that into context, it means that all the money that is currently being spent on child care in B.C. by all the different levels of government represents a 105% increase for the development of early learning and child care in the province.

[Child Care, September 26th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said in the House many times before, we have been very respectful of the jurisdiction of all the provinces, including the province of Quebec. We have been very respectful of the position it holds in terms of childcare in this country and also in terms of Quebec being an inspiration for the program that has been introduced. Our negotiations are ongoing.

What the hon. member should know is that the money has flowed for this first year through a trust fund, so the people of Quebec and the government of Quebec are receiving their money even in advance of any deal that would be signed.

[Child Care, June 28th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the biggest difference is that this government is delivering on a $5 billion commitment over five years for a national system of early learning and child care.

All that has happened on the other side of the House was a campaign promise 13 months ago, discouraging words ever since and vague talk at this particular moment. There is a huge difference between each side.

[Child Care, June 28th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, there is another great difference between the party opposite in here--

[Child Care, June 28th, 2005]

They are applauding. That is less than $1 a day. That is a real triumph. Congratulations.

[Child Care, June 28th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, I might remind the party opposite that 13 months ago in terms of child care in this country things were stalled. In the midst of the campaign, the party opposite decided to make a campaign promise and that promise would represent $320 for a low income family.