The federal government has been quietly probing how to provide provinces with more money annually for child care, as part of what sources describe as an issue that is at, or near, the top of the Liberal agenda to restart the economy.
Published Monday, May 18, 2020 7:17AM EDTSocial Development Minister Ahmed Hussen has spent the past two weeks making phone calls to experts in the field, asking about how federal spending on child care can be better targeted.
The suggestion coming through those conversations is that the Liberals are exploring how Ottawa can better co-ordinate a patchwork of provincial systems, so a lack of child care does not trip up the desired recovery from the COVID-19 shutdown in the second half of the year. More than three million Canadians are out of work, according to Statistics Canada, and 2.5 million more had their hours slashed as public health restrictions forced the closure of businesses and sent workers home. Child-care centres and services have closed for all but essential workers.
"The need for child care has never been made clearer," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said earlier this month during a press briefing. At the same time, the Liberals are moving ahead with a promised child-care secretariat that would work towards building a national system. Outside experts consulted on child-care plans have suggested the government house the secretariat inside the Privy Council Office, which aids the prime minister and cabinet.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
The Next Health-Care Crisis? The Patients Who Have Been Waiting Out COVID-19The indirect effects of the pandemic on Canadians’ access to health care could be significant.
Read more »
Ontario long-term care association calls on province to commit to public inquiryLong-term care homes have taken the brunt of the impact from the pandemic, and the Ministry of Long-Term Care has reported that 1,360 resident deaths are related to COVID-19
Read more »
Will The Pandemic Finally Make Us Talk About Palliative Care?Devastating cancer diagnoses and critical diseases do not stop for a pandemic.
Read more »
COVID-19 outbreaks shine light on meat production in CanadaCOVID-19 outbreaks shine light on meat production in Canada GlobeBC
Read more »