On March 22, 2016 the new Liberal federal government tabled their first budget. CRRU has gathered links to the federal budget documents, a selection of responses from child care and social policy groups, as well as media coverage analyzing the budget. More materials will be added as they become available.
Budget 2016
Budget website
Budget plan in pdf
Budget brief
Budget speech in pdf
Budget excerpts on child care and early childhood programs
"For Canadian families, high-quality, affordable child care is more than a convenience-it's a necessity. The Government recognizes the deep connection between child care and the economic security of families, and proposes to invest $500 million in 2017-18 to support the establishment of a National Framework on Early Learning and Child Care. Of this amount, $100 million would be for Indigenous child care and early learning on reserve.Because child care needs vary from family to family, and because provinces and territories have responded to those needs in different ways, the Framework will be designed to meet the needs of Canadian families, wherever they live. Developing the Framework will begin in 2016-17, and will be a joint effort-the Government, provinces, territories and Indigenous peoples will all contribute to its creation. Investments under the new Framework are expected to flow in 2017-18."
-Chapter 2: Growth for the Middle Class, p. 101
"The Government recognizes that access to affordable, quality child care that is culturally appropriate is critical for Indigenous parents and children. Budget 2016 proposes to undertake urgent repairs and renovations of the facilities used by the Aboriginal Head Start On Reserve Program and the First Nations and Inuit Child Care Initiative through a proposed investment of $29.4 million in 2016-17. In addition, Budget 2016 proposes to provide $100 million in 2017-18 towards Early Learning and Child Care on reserve. The Government will be engaging with Indigenous organizations and parents to determine the best approach to delivering high quality early learning and child care on reserve as part of a new National Framework on Early Learning and Child Care. The proposed investments will complement the significant investments the Government is proposing to make in First Nations K-12 education."
-Chapter 3: A Better Future for Indigenous Peoples, p. 140-141
Responses
Child care put off to next year
Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada, 22 Mar 2016
Canada needs to move forward on a national child care plan -- children and families will wait another year to access a pan-Canadian plan for affordable, quality, child care
Canadian Child Care Federation, 22 Mar 2016
Budget 2016: A historic step forward in Canada's battle against child poverty
Campaign 2000, 23 Mar 2016
2016 Federal Budget Analysis
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, 22 Mar 2016
Media coverage
Desperate parents pray for federal action amid daycare ‘anarchy'
Toronto Star, 22 Mar 2016
Liberals deliver on Canada Child Benefit
Toronto Star, 22 Mar 2016
Is the new Canada Child Benefit fair?
Maclean's, 22 Mar 2016