Establishing a national system of early learning and child care in light of Canada's obligations under NAFTA and the WTO

Excerpts from the legal opinion:

This opinion assesses present plans to establish a national child care program in light of Canada's international trade obligations. It examines how governments may best maintain their policy options relating to early childhood education and child care (ECEC) in light of the constraints imposed by free trade agreements - in particular those dealing with foreign investment and services.

The question we address is this: Do international trade rules limit the range of policy, funding and regulatory options governments may wish to adopt, or abandon, from time to time to ensure that ECEC programs meet and remain responsive to the needs of Canadian children and families?