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The blueprint for a cross-Canada child care system is one step closer to reality. A parliamentary committee has voted to pass Bill C-303, the NDP’s Early Learning and Child Care Act. The bill now returns to the House of Commons for third and final reading.

C-303 lays the foundation for an accountable, high quality early learning and child care system.  The legislation would provide accountability and transparency – planks of the Conservative election platform that are lost in translation when it comes to child care.

Reports this week show just how serious the accountability gap is. The provinces can’t account for more than $2.6 billion in cash transferred over the past four years to create child care spaces.

Bill C-303 limits expansion of for-profit child care, a move that protects Canada from international trade disputes and ensures the highest quality care.

Earlier this month CUPE presented a brief on Bill C-303 to the parliamentary committee. The presentation highlighted the need for accountability, shared a cautionary tale about Australia’s experience with for-profit care and emphasized the link between quality care and good wages and working conditions.

Code Blue for Child Care has been gathering and posting submissions made to the parliamentary committee – including the campaign’s presentation. You can access them on the Code Blue site here.