PM points to Tory premiers for childcare shortfalls

OTTAWA • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau blames conservative premiers for any shortfalls in his childcare program, accusing the provincial governments of not moving fast enough to build spaces.

Trudeau was in Vancouver on Thursday, rolling out another item from the upcoming budget. He announced $1 billion in lowcost loans to allow childcare centres to expand, as well as $60 million in grants. He also offered up a rebate program on educational tuition for childcare providers who work in rural and remote communities.

Trudeau said several provinces, including B.C., are doing well with the national childcare program, but he said others were “slow walking” expansions of it.

“There are provincial governments unfortunately that follow the federal Conservatives’ lead on this and are looking to not deliver child care or even cut childcare services,” he said. “We are there to continue to push on the provinces to deliver that to ensure the childcare providers are able to pass along those savings.”

The Trudeau Liberals launched the childcare program in 2021 with $27 billion aimed at getting provinces to offer child care for an average fee of $10 a day. Since the program was launched, eight out of 10 provinces have reached the $10-a-day average, but there are growing wait-lists, and many parents face a lack of spaces, while some providers have said they cannot afford to operate with the funding provided.

After passing the legislation in Parliament, the Liberals negotiated individual deals with provinces across the country. B.C. was the first, with requirements that the provinces lower fees and add new spaces in return for the federal cash.

Earlier this week, the prime minister unveiled the first set of budget measures aimed at renters, while also saying the budget would target younger — millennial and Gen Z — voters.

On Thursday he continued that theme, arguing the childcare plan was about providing a leg-up to young families struggling with other affordability issues.

“I want to take a moment to talk to young moms, many of you millennials, you’ve grown up with so many pressures in this economy, the 2008 recession, COVID, climate change,” he said. “You’re a huge part of the economy, and we want to make sure that everyone, especially moms raising kids, has the best chance to succeed and thrive.”

When it was first introduced, Conservative MPS criticized the childcare program as a top-down approach that leaves out many parents and interferes in provincial jurisdiction.

But they also voted for C-35, legislation the government introduced last year that enshrines the program, making it harder, though not impossible, to eliminate it in future. Trudeau said the program is an improvement not just for parents, but for the broader economy.

“It’s giving every kid the best start in life because we know that access to highquality child care can help them do better in school, and it’s a building block to success in life,” he said. “It’s estimated that for every dollar invested in child care, the economy gets $2.80 in return.”