Building an affordable childcare program for generations

I have heard from many expecting and existing parents about affordable childcare. With Budget 2023 pledging $30 billion over 5 years and an additional $9.2 billion following that period, there is a lot at stake.

I voted for the Canada Early Learning and Child Care Act (C-35); however, the legislation remains flawed. Two of the largest issues is the exclusion of female entrepreneurs and the lack of a labour workforce strategy.

The majority of child care operators are women, yet the language and intent of the bill would prevent any growth in opportunities for privately-run female child care operators.

Moreover, how does the government expect more women to be able to go to work when there are no child care spots available and with wait-lists being years long?

It’s not helpful to parents if childcare is $10 a day, but there are no spots available at the daycare or there are no workers to look after the child. In the House of Commons, I advocated for the development of a childcare labour workforce strategy and raised other recommendations from the Association of Daycare Operators of Ontario, especially to stop the exclusion of female entrepreneurs, so that we can hopefully build an affordable, high quality national childcare program that will last generations to come.

It's worth reiterating the recommended four amendments brought forward by the Association of Day Care Operators of Ontario, that I raised to the attention of the Minister responsible and government as we debated the legislation:

1. Make the bill more inclusive by deleting the reference to public and not-for-profit child care providers;
2. Consider an addition that provides some guidance to advisory council members about avoiding potential conflicts of interest or the appearance of impropriety arising from their involvement on the council;
3. Provide advisory council members with guidance on avoiding any paid consulting or volunteer work related to political parties or candidates during their term on the council;
4. Finally, add additional specificity surrounding the composition of the advisory council with respect to regional representation as well as representation by female entrepreneurs and those involved in the direct delivery of licensed child care services.

We must get national childcare right if we want Canadian families to have access to reliable, safe, and affordable childcare for generations to come.