Budget shows ‘importance of child care as an economic issue’
As part of its 2021 budget, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government has promised to spend $30 billion over five years, plus $8.3 billion a year after that, to reduce child care fees in Canada. The government says the funding will allow a 50 per cent reduction in average fees by the end of 2022, and the goal is to bring fees down to an average of $10 a day by 2026.
The child care spending is the signature item in the Liberal budget that will see new spending increase by $101.4 billion over the next three years. It also shows the growing importance of child care as economic policy, says Sean Speer, fellow in residence at the Public Policy Forum. On this episode of Crisis Management, Speer explains why there is energy and momentum behind child care policy in Canada, and the challenges the Liberal government may face when it comes to implementing its plan.
