Bill C303 passed second reading in the House of Commons with the support of all three opposition parties. And now the bill is going to a House of Commons Standing Committee for review. If all three federal opposition parties continue to support this important legislation, the Bill will move forward to the House of Commons for final consideration.

TAKE ACTION: What can we do?
You can send a written letter of support for this federal legislation before May 3, 2007 (sample letter below) and encourage others in your community to send letters.

Send it to:

Email: huma@parl.gc.ca

OR

Postage Free Mail: Christine Lafrance, Clerk Standing Committee of Human Resources, Skills Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities
180 Wellington Street, Room 641
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6

BACKGROUND:
This is positive legislation that increases choice for parents. It lets provinces and territories expand flexible child care options at the hours and locations parents need. It keeps the $100 taxable family allowance for children under age six. The bill also brings accountability – any federal money given for child care will be spent on child care.

• Fewer than 20-percent of families in BC have access to quality, regulated child care.
• At the same time, 75-percent of mothers are in the workforce.
• 44-percent of BC employers are reporting labour shortages.
• Reliable, affordable, quality public child care will allow more parents to work or study to their full potential.
• Accountability is needed. The BC government is currently able to take federal money meant for child care and spend it on other things instead.
• This legislation will be good for children, families, our communities and economy.

More Info about Bill C-303, the Early Learning & Child Care Act

SAMPLE LETTER: to HUMA

To members of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA):

I am writing to let you know of my (our) strong support for Bill C-303, which you are reviewing as a member of the House of Commons HUMA Standing Committee.

This Act, if passed, will go a long way towards creating true accountability in an area where it is sorely needed – child care funding.

Bill C-303, the Early Learning and Child Care Act, is designed to ensure that any federal money allocated for child care actually gets spent on child care. This is not currently how things work. In the last two years, the federal government has transferred almost $2 billion for early learning and child care to the provinces; this year, the transfers will be $600-million. While this is not enough money to build the child care system Canada needs, it is nevertheless a considerable amount of public funds. But at this time, there are no strings attached at all. The provinces are free to spend it on anything but child care. Contrary to the intergovernmental agreements signed beginning with the Multilateral Agreement on Early Learning and Child Care in 2003, most provinces are not publicly accounting for the federal funds.

From both the public accountability and the child development perspective, this is not an acceptable situation. Early learning and child care is simply too important to leave to chance.

The proposed Act also sets some standards for program delivery, ensuring that the federal funds are directed only to child care providers that meet a set of criteria referred to as the QUAD principles: Quality, Universality, Accessibility and Development-oriented. These are minimum benchmarks to help ensure that children are protected and in nurturing, stimulating environments. They are well based on the best available evidence.

I encourage you to support Bill C-303.
It’s the accountable thing to do.

Sincerely,

Name, address