OTTAWA - A much-touted promise by the federal Conservatives to create 125,000 new child-care spaces may not be doable, suggests Social Development Minister Monte Solberg.

The Conservatives have been slammed by critics who say the government's approach won't create nearly that many spaces over five years.

"We have to be realistic," Solberg said Wednesday when asked if an election vow made 18 months ago can be kept.

He then firmly passed the buck to his provincial cousins.

"You know, the people who are the primary deliverers of child-care spaces are the provinces…..

That said, Solberg cited new plans for 7,000 spaces in Ontario, 1,250 in Manitoba, 500 in Saskatchewan and 750 in New Brunswick.

"I would argue that a lot of that had to do with the fact that they got extra support from us," he said.

Liberal MP and child-care critic Ruby Dhalla scoffed at that idea.

"I think Minister Solberg is forgetting that any spaces created are thanks to money that was booked and committed under the Liberals. Not a single new space has been created under this government."

Critics say stressed-out parents in many parts of Canada face a tough choice - stay home, or place their kids in low-quality care….

The Conservatives scrapped Liberal plans for a national early learning system in favour of increased family benefits and scaled-back funding for new spaces.

Parents are also receiving $1,200 a year (before taxes) for each child under the age of six.

That move was applauded by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation and parents who want more cash directly in their pockets.

But NDP child-care critic Olivia Chow says other families are caught in a crossfire of political finger pointing between municipalities, provinces and Ottawa.

She said she hears from parents every day who are desperate for care they can afford: "They can't work. There are horror stories."

Also missing is any federal legislation to ensure provinces spend child-care money on high-quality, accessible programs, Chow said.

She cited long reporting delays from provincial officials - when they report at all - to account for how more than $2 billion in child-care funds was spent in the last three years.

"They do report," Solberg said. "I don't disagree there are concerns about how late some of them are. And I've written to them regarding that."

Still, Solberg has not threatened to withhold cash from provinces that are late to prove they spent it as intended by Ottawa.

"I don't believe in that... I think they understand it's in everyone's interest to be transparent about these things."…

"I think things are very hard for young parents... Everywhere you look there are accessibility crises, quality crises. From talking to people across the country, I think things are in a really bad way.

"Yet, all the evidence about well-designed early childhood education being a good thing for children is so overwhelming."

Friendly noted that Canada ranks well below European countries of less wealth that are doing much more for young families.

"This is such an obvious social policy for a country to have. You look at it from an international point of view, and Canada is so far behind."