Human Resources committee  Not one space has been created under that.

Human Resources committee  I'll start, and then Jody can jump in. I think it's important to note that the new government was speaking to creating a number of spaces. But that doesn't recognize that the existing infrastructure is crumbling around us. For example, the Alberta government made a new announcement this morning about child care.

Status of Women committee  Thank you. There are two things I want to say. One is the CCAAC has always promoted a range of family supports. People focus on the fact that we promote a system of early learning and child care, but that's along with a balance of other approaches, expanded maternity and parental leave--including the way people qualify—as well as income supports to families, although we would suggest that a mechanism like the Canada child tax benefit, which recognizes lower-income families and gives them a greater benefit, would be more beneficial.

Status of Women committee  That's a really good question, because as a mother myself, I can say the hardest I've ever worked was when my children were young, with all of the demands of having three young children. Yes, it would cost a lot. Can we afford it? I don't know. Maybe Ms. Smith would like to answer how much a full-time mom should be paid.

Status of Women committee  I guess the question isn't, then, how do we pay for it, because women contribute—our economist might be able to tell me—a significant amount to our economy through our taxes. If we remove that, how can we continue to function? I think there has to be some balance, and also some recognition that the choice needs to be there, that it's not simply a matter of economic need, but that women have the opportunity to make those choices.

Status of Women committee  I guess I made a big impression.

Status of Women committee  Actually, we were. We were at a round table that Ken Dryden hosted with—

Status of Women committee  I absolutely agree that the Quebec child care model is an excellent one. It's not without its own challenges, and it certainly experienced growing pains. So many people wanted it immediately, and of course there weren't enough facilities and not enough trained caregivers. So it has taken some time to develop and grow, but the biggest complaint is that there isn't enough, that it needs to expand to meet the growing need.

Status of Women committee  I certainly don't think so. What defines us as Canadians is our public health care system, our public education system. When we look at public education, 90% of us have gone through the public education system even if, as you say, there are other mechanisms in place where there are vouchers or you can be supported to choose something else.

Status of Women committee  I can start. Thank you. I think that's a really important question, and particularly from the child care perspective, when we look at this, we've been talking about a price tag of about $10 billion a year to have a fully accessible, universal, high-quality child care system that is inclusive and meets all needs.

Status of Women committee  Finland is a good example of this, and I had an opportunity to speak to a member of the Finnish government who was involved in the development of policy around this. Because they have a universal program, anyone who wants early learning and child care programs in Finland can access them.

Status of Women committee  Absolutely. First of all, it's important to note that there is a tremendous amount of inequity in the patchwork we have out there. We don't have a system; we do have a patchwork. Another committee, the HUMA committee, is meeting right now and considering child care legislation, Bill C-303, that will provide a legislative framework to guarantee standards around investments, so that the progress made through the bilateral agreements would not be lost and a new government couldn't simply come in and stop that progress.

Status of Women committee  Should I reply to this?

Status of Women committee  I just had additional information about the rural—

Status of Women committee  That return of $2 to $17 on the investment of every dollar seems like a huge range, doesn't it? There are a number of factors to be considered in that. Around the issue of child poverty, I just want to first of all acknowledge that somehow we are very sympathetic to the term “child poverty”, but let's face it, children are only poor because their mothers are poor and their families are poor.