Denise Savoie

COMMONS TO VOTE ON LANDMARK NDP EARLY LEARNING AND CHILDCARE ACT TODAY

OTTAWA – A major step forward for public child care in Canada is on the order paper of the House of Commons today, as Canada’s Early Learning and Childcare Act (C-303) comes to a vote on Second Reading at 5:30 p.m. (2:30 PST). The Act was introduced in the House of Commons in June by NDP MPs Denise Savoie (Victoria) and seconded by Olivia Chow (Trinity Spadina).

“We have the opportunity to invest in success,” said NDP Child Care critic Olivia Chow during debate on the bill. “Passing this legislation would ensure reliable provincial transfers of our childcare spaces while entrenching the principles of quality, universality, accessibility, accountability and educational development. These are national standards for this vitally needed service, like the standards for health care. This would establish early learning and childcare as a cornerstone of Canada, as it should be and must be.”

“Everyone but the Conservatives knows that their claims of providing ‘universal choice in childcare’ are bogus. A single mom from Victoria wrote to me because she cannot afford to stay at home with her two little girls, nor can she afford both rent and childcare on her salary. What choice does $100 give her?” said Victoria MP Denise Savoie.

“We have a chance to move forward,” continued Savoie. “This Bill will actually create child care spaces that every Canadian family can afford, and expand the capacity of provinces and territories to provide flexible, quality child care options at the hours and locations parents need. It represents Canadians working together to make a better life for our families, to give the best possible life to our children. We urge MPs of all parties to make it reality and support this bill.”

MPs Olivia Chow and Denise Savoie will join Child Care activists for a pre-vote rally on the front steps of Parliament at 5pm.