NDP MP, Denise Savoie has introduced a piece of child care legislation, Bill C-303, that is inconsistent with our government’s plan for child care. This bill will be voted on in the House tonight. Similar to the Liberal’s set of agreements with three provinces, this plan proposes a ‘one-size-fits-all’ plan for Canadian families. Worse, it would place strict limitations on the ability of the provinces and territories to carry out child care programming, which is within their jurisdiction.

Demonstrations are expected to take place throughout the day today in preparation for tonight’s vote on this bill. Specifically, advocacy group Code Blue will be demonstrating outside the Visitor’s Entrance to Centre Block at 4:45 p.m. today, as well as sitting in the gallery during the vote.

Why Shipley and the Conservatives do not like the NDP’s Bill C-303 – Early Learning and Child Care Act:

•The NDP’s “one-size-fits-all” approach to child care does not respect the diverse needs and child care preferences of Canadian families.

•This bill suggests instituting one costly plan across the country, which all provinces and territories would abide by and all parents pay for,regardless of whether it suits families’ or regions’ individualized needs.

•This plan calls for the federal government to introduce new restraints, conditions and cost pressures on provincial and territorial governments, who are responsible for the design and delivery of early learning and child care programs in the first place. Provinces and territories would have almost no flexibility in establishing child care programs that meet the needs of families in their jurisdictions.

•This bill would only have us fund new not-for-profit child care spaces,limiting parents’ child care options. For many families, for-profit and
in-home child care are the preferred options. This bill disregards that.

•The NDP want to cancel the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB) introduced by Canada’s New Government, delivering $100 a month for every child under the age of six. NDP MPs Olivia Chow and Tony Martin have on separate occasions introduced a motion calling for the cancellation of the $100 cheques – taking away money from Canadian families.

Our government is respecting the diverse needs of Canadian families and instituting a plan that all families can benefit from. After only six months in office, we introduced the UCCB which we know families need. We will also launch our spaces creation initiative, creating more child care spaces and more choice across the country.

Parents and the provinces need flexibility and freedom to choose the type of child care that works best for them. Our government’s Universal Child Care Program does just that. Further, our government’s approach to child care recognizes and respects the roles and responsibilities of provincial and territorial governments to deliver child care services. After 13 years of inaction by the previous Liberal government, Canada’s New Government is getting things done on child care for Canadian families and taxpayers.