November 2006
Federal Bill C–303 passes second reading of the Private Members’ bill in the House of Commons
An Act to establish criteria and conditions in respect of funding for early learning and child care programs in order to ensure the quality, accessibility, universality and accountability of those programs, and to appoint a council to advise the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development on matters relating to early learning and child care.
Second reading: Nov 21, 2006
Vote – 144 “yeas” and 116 “nays”.
Vote results [PDF]
More information is available on the Parliament site
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Article:
Early Learning & Child Care Act to proceed to Committee after passing in Parliament
November 22, 2006
OTTAWA – With the successful vote on Canada’s Early Learning and Child Care Act (C-303) this evening in the House of Commons, progress towards national child care took a major step forward.
The Child Care Act, introduced in June by NDP MPs Denise Savoie (Victoria) and Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina) will now move on to examination and debate at committee.
“We now have the chance to make history in this Parliament and shape legislation that will enshrine affordable, accessible, and universal early learning, and child care as cornerstones of social policy for Canadian families,” said Savoie. “Canada’s children and working families deserve the Early Learning and Child Care Act.”
“With this vote the majority of average Canadians are saying loud and clear to the minority Conservative Government that national early learning and child care are essential to today’s families,” continued NDP Child Care critic Olivia Chow.
“For too long Canada has been failing Canadian kids and their parents. We have fallen to the bottom of the OECD list. This should be a wake-up call to the Prime Minister. Most Canadians have already seen through his so-called child care program which only provides $100 taxable-dollars a month.”
Working families in Canada need child care and the NDP is absolutely committed to continuing pursue this important issue, working with the other parties to beat the odds and enact the legislation as law in the months ahead.