Finance committee  I wouldn't necessarily agree with that. You're implying that everyone would have to use it. Requiring someone to go into a regulated system is not something we would ever advocate. It's just providing options for the majority of Canadians who, one, want this system, and two, woul

Finance committee  Thank you, Judy, for that. You're absolutely right, and I concur that the system that was planned and the system that we advocate for certainly is not one where everyone is put into a one-size-fits-all box, where we all must behave the same way and we're all expected to have th

Finance committee  One of the great benefits of a national universal child care system is that it is non-compulsory. You can choose to participate, and it's not a matter of--

Finance committee  My understanding is that child care is indeed under provincial jurisdiction.

Finance committee  I'm not sure whether that's correct. I know it is legislated and monitored and overseen by the provinces, but it relies heavily on assistance from the federal government.

Finance committee  I'm relatively new to this, so no, I can't answer that question.

Finance committee  I would, but at the same time I hesitate to put our children in what is purely an economic light. I absolutely concur that it would be a competitive advantage if employers across the country or employees across the country could have access to quality child care services in which

Finance committee  Absolutely.

Finance committee  We do advocate for higher wages. That is one of the major issues that we do advocate for. The wage inequities happen and pay inequity happens within early learning and child care, specifically with child care workers and ECs. I agree that it's not equitable, but that's no reaso

Finance committee  It really ranges across the country, I'd have to say. It's anywhere from minimum wage to upwards of $15. The wage levels are quite inequitable.

Finance committee  The wages?

Finance committee  I concur.

Finance committee  I can check on the statistics, but I think one statistic that I saw said it was 90%, and there may also be up to 98% women working in child care.

Finance committee  I can check that out for you.

Finance committee  No, I think it's fair to say that. As I said, our real emphasis—and it's the same thing with the CCAC—is advocating for the universal system first and foremost. Income supports that fit in with existing income supports for low-income families are perfectly acceptable, but I think