Summary#

This bill sets out the federal government’s plan for a Canada‑wide early learning and child care system. It commits to long‑term federal funding for provinces and Indigenous peoples, sets guiding principles, creates a National Advisory Council, and requires annual public reporting (Purpose; Funding commitments; National Advisory Council — Establishment; Annual Report).

• Commits to maintain long‑term federal funding for child care, delivered mainly through agreements with provinces and Indigenous entities (Funding commitments; Funding agreements).
• Sets principles: access, affordability, inclusion, and quality, with emphasis on public and non‑profit providers and a supported workforce (Funding — Guiding principles (1)).
• Affirms Indigenous rights and adds principles specific to Indigenous early learning and care (Rights of Indigenous peoples; Other guiding principles — Indigenous peoples).
• Requires the Minister to table a yearly report on funding and progress (Annual Report — Report; Tabling).
• Creates a National Advisory Council of 10–18 members to advise the Minister and consult widely (National Advisory Council — Establishment; Functions; Meetings).

What it means for you#

• Households

  • You may see continued federal support for lower child care fees and more spaces, because the Act commits to long‑term funding via provincial and Indigenous agreements. The Act itself does not set fees or guarantee a space (Funding commitments; Funding agreements).
  • Annual federal reports will summarize progress on quality, availability, affordability, accessibility, and inclusion, which lets parents track system performance (Annual Report — Report).

• Early childhood educators and staff

  • The Act highlights recruitment and retention of a qualified, well‑supported workforce as part of “high quality” care, but it does not set wage floors or training rules. Any changes would flow through provincial or Indigenous agreements (Funding — Guiding principles (1)(d); Funding agreements).

• Child care providers

  • Public and non‑profit providers are identified “in particular” for support under federal investments. For‑profit providers are not barred, but the principle may influence funding choices in agreements (Funding — Guiding principles (1)(a)).
  • Providers serving children with disabilities, Indigenous children, or official language minority communities are prioritized under inclusion and language commitments (Funding — Guiding principles (1)(c); Commitments re Official Languages Act (3)).

• Provinces and territories

  • You continue to lead program design and standards. Federal funding is delivered “primarily through agreements” that reflect the Act’s principles (Funding agreements; Funding — Guiding principles (1)).
  • You can expect annual federal reporting and advice from the National Advisory Council, which may inform future agreements (Annual Report; National Advisory Council — Functions).

• Indigenous governments and organizations

  • Federal investments must follow the co‑developed Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework and uphold rights under section 35 and free, prior, and informed consent in matters relating to children (Other guiding principles — Indigenous peoples; Rights of Indigenous peoples; Declaration (e)).
  • Funding is delivered through agreements with Indigenous governing bodies or entities that represent an Indigenous group (Funding agreements).

• Official language minority communities

  • Federal investments under provincial agreements must be guided by the Official Languages Act commitments, which can support services in minority languages (Commitments re Official Languages Act (3)).

Expenses#

Estimated net cost: Data unavailable.

• The Act contains no specific dollar appropriations, tax changes, or fee schedules. It commits to maintaining long‑term funding but does not set amounts; funding flows through separate intergovernmental agreements and budgets (Funding commitments; Funding agreements).
• National Advisory Council:
  • 10–18 members; Chair may be full‑time or part‑time; other members are part‑time (National Advisory Council — Establishment; Appointment; Full‑time or part‑time membership).
  • Members are paid remuneration set by the Governor in Council and reimbursed for travel and living expenses. Exact amounts are not stated (Remuneration; Travel and living expenses).
  • Meets at least 4 times per fiscal year unless the Minister specifies otherwise (Meetings).
• Annual reporting and administration will have costs, but the Act provides no figures (Annual Report — Report).
• Data unavailable.

Proponents' View#

• It makes the federal role durable by stating a commitment to long‑term funding for a Canada‑wide system, giving provinces and Indigenous partners more predictability (Funding commitments; Funding agreements).
• The principles steer money toward access, affordability, inclusion, and quality, including rural and remote communities and children with disabilities (Funding — Guiding principles (1)(a)-(c)).
• It supports a qualified and stable workforce by naming recruitment and retention as key to quality, which can guide future agreements and investments (Funding — Guiding principles (1)(d)).
• It upholds Indigenous rights and applies an Indigenous‑led framework to investments, aligning with free, prior, and informed consent (Rights of Indigenous peoples; Other guiding principles — Indigenous peoples; Declaration (e)).
• It improves accountability through a public annual report and an advisory council that consults parents, educators, providers, and experts (Annual Report — Report; National Advisory Council — Functions).
• It respects provincial leadership by using funding agreements rather than federal program rules, reducing the risk of one‑size‑fits‑all mandates (Funding agreements).

Opponents' View#

• It does not create an individual entitlement to a child care spot or cap fees. Access, staffing, wages, and fees still depend on separate agreements and provincial or Indigenous policies (Purpose; Funding agreements).
• The funding “commitment” has no dollar amounts or timelines, and future Parliaments control appropriations. The promise may be symbolic without binding fiscal obligations (Funding commitments).
• Emphasizing public and non‑profit providers could disadvantage for‑profit centres and limit supply growth in some areas (Funding — Guiding principles (1)(a)).
• Transparency may be limited because the annual report covers information “in the Minister’s possession” and “within the Minister’s authority to disclose,” which may leave gaps (Annual Report — Report; Sharing of information).
• The Advisory Council adds administrative costs and meetings, but the Act gives no performance targets or cost caps, making efficiency uncertain (National Advisory Council — Establishment; Remuneration; Meetings).
• Federal involvement in an area of provincial responsibility could lead to jurisdictional disputes or uneven implementation through negotiated agreements (Declaration (d); Funding agreements).