In This Section
Parliamentary vote to create new national childcare
November 23, 2006
Vancouver - The majority House of Commons vote yesterday in favour of the NDP-sponsored National Child Care Act (Bill C-303) is a victory for women and a challenge to the Gordon Campbell Liberals, says B.C. Federation of Labour Secretary-Treasurer, Angela Schira. "Earlier this year, BC Finance Minister Carole Taylor walked away from $455 million of federal funding needed to create a provincial childcare system," said Schira. "This could have created almost 33,000 childcare spaces for working families." The money had been left on the table when the Harper Conservatives cancelled the existing National Childcare Program in favour of an individual tax credit. But yesterday, the House of Commons voted by 144 to 116 to send the NDP-sponsored Bill C303, to the legislation reviving the National Program, to committee for review. The private member’s Bill, introduced by MP Denise Savoie (NDP-Victoria), would create standards for childcare much like the Canada Health Act does for medicare. It lays the foundation for a country-wide childcare system. "The Campbell government turned its back on the national childcare plan," Schira said. "We need to hear the Premier say he supports this new National Program and will fight to see it implemented. It ensures reliable funding for the provinces, while respecting their diversity. It also guarantees tax dollars earmarked for childcare are invested in non-profit childcare centres. The Bill received the unanimous support of all NDP, Liberal and Bloc Quebecois MPs present in the House at the time of the vote. Conservative MPs and independent MP Garth Turner all voted nay. Prime Minister Harper was not in his seat. "We have been part of the massive national Code Blue for Childcare campaign that has seen thousands of letters and petitions sent to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Members of Parliament across the country," said Schira, "and our members won’t stop until this Bill is law." MPs need to continue to hear that this matters to their constituents, and government MPs need to know that we aren’t buying into the Conservatives’ so-called childcare "plan". "Childcare is one of the key issues going into our 50th Convention next week, and has been high on our agenda since the early 70’s. We will be monitoring the Committee deliberations and keeping up the pressure for a third and final vote on the Bill in early 2007," Schira concluded.
