Affordable and inclusive early learning and child care is a powerful driver of economic growth and social equality. That’s why the Government of Canada is working with provinces, territories and Indigenous peoples to build an affordable, inclusive and high-quality early learning and child care system for families in Canada. Now, the Government is taking another significant step forward by ensuring the system remains in place long into the future so that generations of children in Canada can get the best possible start in life.

“Our affordable child care plan is helping to grow the economy, allowing more women to enter the workforce, and helping to give children in Canada the best start in life. We want to ensure that future generations of families across Canada can count on the progress we’ve achieved so far. Introducing this bill is an important step toward making this system a lasting federal commitment, including sustained long-term funding for provinces, territories and Indigenous peoples.”
– Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Karina Gould

• Bill C-35 builds on the collaborative work undertaken with provinces and territories under the federal/provincial/territorial Multilateral Early Learning and Child Care Framework, and with Indigenous peoples under the co‑developed Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework that was endorsed by Indigenous leadership and the Government of Canada. The Government recognizes that First Nations, Inuit and Métis children and families are best supported by early learning and child care programs and services that are culturally appropriate and led by Indigenous peoples.

• Since 2015, the Government of Canada has delivered real results to make life more affordable from coast to coast to coast through an historic investment in Budget 2021. The investment, totalling up to $30 billion over five years, is building a Canada-wide early learning and child care system in collaboration with provincial, territorial and Indigenous partners. To date, as a result of these investments, fees for regulated child care have been reduced across Canada, and by 2025–26, fees for regulated child care across Canada will be $10 a day, on average.

• The National Advisory Council on Early Learning and Child Care brings together a committed and diverse group of 16 members, including academics and advocates, practitioners and caregivers.

• Investments in early learning and child care will ultimately benefit all Canadians. Studies show that for every dollar invested in early childhood education, the broader economy receives between $1.50 and $2.80 in return.

Related products

• Backgrounder

Associated links

• Toward $10-a-Day: Early Learning and Child Care
• Federal Secretariat on Early Learning and Child Care
• Multilateral Early Learning and Child Care Framework
• Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Framework
• Engagement on Federal Early Learning and Child Care Legislation: What We Heard Report
• National Advisory Council on Early Learning and Child Care

For media enquiries, please contact:

Mohammad Hussain
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Karina Gould
mohammad.a.hussain@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

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