THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL AFFAIRS, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Wednesday, October 18, 2023
(69)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology met this day at 4:13 p.m., in room B45, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Ratna Omidvar, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Burey, Cardozo, Cordy, Cormier, Greenwood, McPhedran, Mégie, Moodie, Omidvar, Osler and Seidman (11).

Participating in the meeting: Antoine Dedewanou and Kelly Farrah, analysts, Library of Parliament.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, September 28, 2023, the committee began its study of Bill C-35, An Act respecting early learning and child care in Canada.

APPEARING:

The Honourable Jenna Sudds, P.C., M.P., Minister of Families, Children and Social Development.

WITNESSES:

Employment and Social Development Canada:

Andrew Brown, Associate Deputy Minister;

Michelle Lattimore, Director General, Federal Secretariat on Early Learning and Child Care;

Cheri Reddin, Director General, Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care;

Kelly Nares, Director, Federal Secretariat on Early Learning and Child Care;

Christian Paradis, Director, Federal Secretariat on Early Learning and Child Care;

Jill Henry, Director, Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care Secretariat.

YMCA Canada:

Jessica Lue, Vice-President, Government Relations and Advocacy (by videoconference).

As individuals:

Kerry McCuaig, Senior Fellow in Early Childhood Policy, Atkinson Centre for Society and Child Development, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto (by videoconference);

Gordon Cleveland, Emeritus Associate Professor of Economics, Department of Management, University of Toronto Scarborough (by videoconference).

The minister made a statement and, together with Michelle Lattimore and Cheri Reddin, answered questions.

At 4:18 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 4:20 p.m., the committee resumed.

At 4:29 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 4:30 p.m., the committee resumed.

At 4:40 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 4:42 p.m., the committee resumed.

At 4:55 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 4:56 p.m., the committee resumed.

At 5:14 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 5:20 p.m., the committee resumed.

Kerry McCuaig, Gordon Cleveland and Jessica Lue each made a statement and answered questions.

At 6:14 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Emily Barrette

Clerk of the Committee