Chrystia Freeland speaks with Edmonton moms about Universal child-care program
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland spoke with Edmonton mothers on Wednesday about the Liberal government's plan for $10/day child care.
The federal government plans to spend $30 billion over the next five years to make their universal national child care program a reality.
"We quickly realized that if we did it, it would help women, it would children, it would help low wage works and crucially it would tremendously increase our prosperity and our economic growth," said Freeland.
B.C. and Nova Scotia have already signed on to the plan and Freeland hinted that more provinces may soon follow.
During the livestream, Freeland spoke about growing up in Alberta and about her Baba (grandmother) taking care of her as a child while her mother was in university.
Then in turn, her mother retired after Freeland's first child was born to help with child care.
"She didn't want me to stop having a career and she was worried that I wouldn't be able to do it, based on how hard it had been for her."
Freeland says women often choose to take a long career break after maternity leave because the cost of child care equals or is greater than the amount of money they're taking home from their job.
"That shouldn't be a path you're forced to choose because of economics," said Freeland.
- 'It would be life-changing': Advocates push for Alberta to sign on to $10/day federal child care program
- Reaction to feds' path to $10/day child care by 2026
- Liberals pledge $30B for child care with eye to reducing fees
The minister explained Quebec's $10/day child-care system resulted in the province going from having the lowest participation of women in the workforce to the highest.
"I'm not saying let's look at what's happening in Scandinavia guys, or some other place. We just have to look in a part of Canada that's done it."
Ottawa and Alberta are currently negotiating to bring the program to the province.
Premier Jason Kenney has called the program an "Ottawa-style cookie cutter program" and that he doesn't think it satisfies the demands of Albertans.
By having women back in the workforce by way of universal national affordable child care, Freeland says the program would pay for itself almost immediately.
"You have more women working, you have more women paying taxes and you have companies that are doing more and producing more and they pay taxes too."
The budget has a portion earmarked for programs and supports for children with disabilities.
Freeland says that each province and territory can decide how they want to distribute the money allocated to them. However, provinces and territories need to show what targets they're going to meet in order for the federal government to give them the money.
She said in negotiations provinces and territories can also decide how to set the times for child care, saying it won't be all 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
"Our working day and the school day do not overlap. I do think that early learning and child care need to accommodate before and after school care, they need to accommodate shift workers."
However, Freeland says that people need to be patient, as changes won't be immediate.
"This is about building a system, and it's going to take some time. I believe that as we build it, there will be rewards and benefits for parents right away, but we're not going to be able to get to $10/day immediately. That will take five years."
Freeland says the federal government is all in on its plan for universal child care, and now it's up to Albertans to let the province know that they want it too.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Testifying in hush money trial, adult film actor Stormy Daniels describes first meeting Trump
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential election 10 years later.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Turfing Poilievre from House a clear sign of desperation by Trudeau Liberals
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
Katy Perry's mom was fooled by AI images of the singer at the Met Gala
Katy Perry did not attend the Met Gala on Monday, but some of the singer’s fans – and even her mom – thought she did.
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.