Conservatives vote in favour of bill enshrining long-term funding for child-care system

OTTAWA –

Conservative members of Parliament joined other parties to vote in favour of a bill that enshrines the federal government’s long-term commitment to a Canada-wide early learning and child-care system.

The Liberals introduced the bill late last year as part of an effort to ensure that future federal governments would continue providing child-care funding to provinces.

The bill, which passed unanimously, also creates a national advisory council on early learning and child care.

The Liberal government earmarked $30 billion over five years in the 2021 budget to set up a long-promised national child-care program.

Agreements between Ottawa and the provinces and territories, most of which are helmed by conservative premiers, aim to reduce child-care fees to $10 a day, on average, by 2026.

The bill also has to pass in the Senate before it can become law.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 19, 2023.