On January 28, I rose in the House to deliver a statement about universal, quality, affordable, accessible, licensed child care:
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"Mr. Speaker, I still remember the desperation I felt when I could not get my little guy into a quality affordable licensed child care space. It is no joke. The wait lists were so long that I was not offered space until he was eight, yet this is the reality for so many working families.
We know investing in child care is good for the child, for the family and our economy. Every dollar invested in child care is returned threefold in the economy.
For decades, the Liberals have made endless promises on child care programs, yet we have seen little real action, let alone a quality, universal, affordable, accessible system. In this new minority Parliament, words are not good enough.
Budget 2020 needs to have a significant increase in investments to at least $1 billion annually, so families with children under five and elementary school-age children who need before and after school care can access them.
Federal investments can build on what the B.C. government has done, based on the $10 a day model, saving families upwards of $1,000 a month. No more pretty words; it is time for action."
