NDP proposes new laws to protect child care in Canada
Penticton Herald / Canadian Press
May 18, 2006

OTTAWA (CP) -- The NDP has tabled what it calls landmark legislation designed to protect and build quality child care in Canada.

Victoria MP Denise Savoie says the Early Learning and Child Care Act aims to protect child care by enshrining it in legislation after years of empty promises, false starts and setbacks by Liberal and Conservative governments.

Savoie says the proposed legislation should be a cornerstone of Canada, just like the Canada Health Act.

She says quality child care is important to the economy, productivity, women's equality, the fight against poverty, and the health, safety and development of children.

The Conservative government budget recently gave parents $1,200 a year in taxable per-child benefits while it abandoned the former Liberal government's plan to introduce a national day-care program.