Saturday, May 19, 2007
NDP Child Care Act passes at committee - Thursday May 17, 2007
OTTAWA – Amid a growing crisis facing ordinary parents and working families, there is now light at the end of the tunnel for the passage of the NDP’s Early Learning and Child Care Act. Bill C-303 passed second reading last fall and has been studied for the last three weeks at the Standing Committee on Human Resources and Social Development.
“With this landmark Child Care Act we will ensure that all children have access to high-quality and affordable early learning opportunities,” said Denise Savoie, the NDP MP who moved the bill.
Since 2003, $2.65 billion has been transferred to the provinces for creating child care spaces. Yet no one knows how the money has been spent or how many spaces have been created.
If passed, Bill C-303 would enshrine principles that federal dollars spent on child care would have to follow. Key among them is that provinces be accountable for federal child care investments and show that the money is being spent according to the law.
“Both the Liberals and Conservatives have written blank cheques for child care,” said NDP Child Care Critic Olivia Chow. “We’ve seen a number of provinces who have not spent federal child care money on supporting parents and everyday families. This is about fairness and accountability.”
“We have an opportunity to achieve something great in this minority parliament. Let’s leave a legacy that provides a fuller range of quality options for all parents in providing the best start for their children,” said Savoie.
# posted by Francis Chartrand @ 8:43 AM 
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