Criminal Code  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan. He has a very long riding name but I remember it. I remember it because I know the member spoke a lot about process. I know the member is famous for filibustering in committee. One example is when the member for Edmonton Strathcona put forward a study to look at women's reproductive rights globally.

Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act  Madam Speaker, I found it very shocking that the member, when referring to women who stay home with their children, said they are not working. In fact, that is probably, as a mother, one of the hardest jobs I have had. I just want to remind the member that most unpaid care work is done by women.

Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act  Madam Speaker, my hon. colleague spoke a bit about workers. One demographic he spoke about was the many immigrant families that choose to become child care workers. Some 98% of early childhood educators are women, and one-third are immigrants and non-permanent residents. More often, workers within early childhood education are also racialized.

Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act  Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. colleague for her speech, although, with so much about House goings-on, it shifted away from early childhood education. This is concerning to me as a former early childhood educator who spent many years working hard for wages that were not livable.

Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act  Mr. Speaker, I thank everybody who has contributed to this debate, a debate that feels like it is going to go on forever with the Conservatives' stalling tactics. I certainly agree that we are in a child care desert. The Conservatives made note of the CCPA report time and time again.

Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act  Madam Speaker, I congratulate my hon. colleague on her new family addition. I have been talking a lot about workers. We are talking about a crisis, a child care desert, which came from the CCPA. It was very clear about what this was about. It did not say to privatize day care and put more money into private spaces.

Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act  Mr. Speaker, I enjoyed working with my colleague on the HUMA committee, as a visitor. I agree that we have a child care desert, but I have been asking the same question over and over again tonight. We have what the CCPA called a worker shortage, caused by poor wages, no benefits and no pension plan.

Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act  Mr. Speaker, it has been nice working with the member across the way. I know I am insistent on this, but we do not have a workforce strategy in this plan. Early childhood educators deserve respect. I remember how much I loved being an early childhood educator but how disrespected I felt.

Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act  Madam Speaker, I think it is very simple. It is very clear. Certainly the sector leaders like Child Care Now and all the major child care organizations have been very clear that if we want a successful national child care strategy, we need to ensure that we have a strategy for workers.

Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act  Madam Speaker, I am happy we have a $10-a-day national child care strategy being put into place, but it will not be a successful program. It will not be rolled out properly without a comprehensive workforce strategy, which includes ensuring that early childhood educators are paid livable wages and benefits and have some sort of income security in retirement.

Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act  Madam Speaker, it goes back to legislation. We need to negotiate a piece of legislation to enshrine it into law. This is about law. I was very happy to see support from the Conservatives, the Bloc and members of the Liberal Party, in fact, for my amendment to include “free, prior and informed consent” on all matters relating to the children of indigenous peoples, something we know historically has not been done.

Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act  Madam Speaker, one of the benefits of the Quebec child care system is that more women are able to participate in the workforce. Does the member agree that access to affordable, quality child care is a gender equity issue?

Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act  Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak about Bill C-35, the Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act. Let me take this opportunity to first of all thank all of the advocates, experts, parents, child care providers, workers, unions and others who took the time to make presentations or write submissions to the committee.

Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act  Madam Speaker, it was a pleasure working with the minister on the bill, and with other members of the House trying to improve the bill. One of the concerns I brought forward, and continue to bring forward, is about workers. I was an early childhood educator, as I have indicated in the past.

Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act  Madam Speaker, my hon. colleague brought up the study from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. She is absolutely right. It is called “Child Care Deserts in Canada”. I agree with her. We have a child care crisis. One of its key recommendations in the report to address this kind of child care desert was to guarantee decent wages and benefits for child care workers.