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May 10th, 2021

Canadian families need universal and affordable childcare, now, not years from now

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh met with British Columbia's Minister of State for Child Care Katrina Chen to talk about the urgency for Justin Trudeau’s Liberals to act and implement universal and affordable childcare to help Canadian families

OTTAWA — In a meeting with British Columbia's Minister of State for Child Care, Katrina Chen, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh discussed how Canadian families are tired of waiting on Justin Trudeau’s Liberals to finally implement a universal and affordable childcare. After 28 years of broken promises by the Liberals on childcare, the lack of universal and affordable childcare is hurting families, women, and our economy, especially during this pandemic.

“Women are disproportionately feeling the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Singh. “They face the highest rates of unemployment. Without access to universal and affordable childcare, women are forced to make the difficult choice between going to work and staying home to take care of their children. While Justin Trudeau promised universal childcare, again, in his last budget, Canadian families shouldn’t have to wait another 28 years for it. They need childcare now.”

The BC government is doing great work with affordable childcare, but they need a partner in the federal government — the Liberals must invest in its implementation now. The pandemic has wiped out decades of progress in women’s participation in the workforce. New Democrats are committed to investing in affordable and universal childcare to help women continue with their careers today, not years from now.

“The ability of women returning to the workforce is essential for a successful economic recovery in Canada,” said Singh. “When women succeed, our economy prospers. New Democrats are committed to making sure the recovery helps women and families with childcare.”