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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 14

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
December 9, 2021 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 14 - Dec/9/21
Ms. Lindsay Mathyssen (London—Fanshawe, NDP)
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-208, An Act respecting early learning and child care. She said: Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Winnipeg Centre for seconding this bill and for her work on this file. There is an affordability crisis in this country. Being able to afford housing, food and other necessities is becoming increasingly difficult, and the pandemic has only exacerbated the struggles that many encounter. Families are struggling to find early learning and child care spaces and costs are not affordable in many cities. Parents are forced to make impossible choices between delaying their return to work and paying huge amounts for the child care they need. After promising an affordable child care program for 28 years, I am glad to see that the Liberals are finally moving forward on their many promises. However, there is still a lack of critical details on the agreements signed with the provinces and the long-term stability and universality of this program. I am tabling this bill today to establish the core principles of a universal early learning and child care program, one that is based on accountability, quality, universality and accessibility, and to establish the standards needed to meet these principles. I am calling on the government to work with us to continue to move child care forward. It is too important to get wrong.
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Context: House Hansard - 14 - Dec/9/21
Ms. Lindsay Mathyssen (London—Fanshawe, NDP)
  • Dec/9/21 12:11:34 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I truly appreciate the incredible work done by my colleague from Vancouver East, who is such a strong advocate for those in need of the affordable housing piece that New Democrats fight for on a daily basis. In my riding, in the city of London, there are 5,000 people on the waitlist for affordable housing. It is indeed at a crisis level. One of the things I am always upset with regarding what has happened through government inaction over the years is the role the federal government has played. It used to be that the government would build en masse affordable, co-operative housing. This was done at the provincial and federal levels, but—
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