May 27, 2009 OTTAWA Ms. Olivia Chow (Trinity—Spadina, NDP) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-397, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (persons born abroad). Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce my private member’s bill, an act to amend the Citizen Act for persons born abroad, which has been seconded by the member [...]

Dear Friends, Throughout the winter I visited child care centres in my riding and heard stories from parents and child care workers that show why Canada desperately needs a universal child care system. I want to report some of my findings to you and share a vision of an ideal model.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 29, 2009 OTTAWA – Today, New Democrats took a major step forward for children and working families through the reintroduction of landmark legislation designed to build quality childcare for future generations. New Democrat Childcare Critic Olivia Chow (Trinity—Spadina) reintroduced The Early Learning and Child Care Act in the House of Commons [...]

Thursday, May 21, 2009, from 6:00 – 8:30 pm St. Stephen’s Community House, 91 Bellevue Avenue (1 block south of College)

The Chair: We’re going to move to Ms. Chow, now, for seven minutes. Ms. Olivia Chow (Trinity—Spadina, NDP): April 1st is coming, and Canadian parents that receive the universal child care allowance will soon have to pay out $300 million in taxes on what they have received. Some of them will have difficulty doing so.

February 26, 2009 OTTAWA – Ms. Olivia Chow (Trinity—Spadina, NDP): Mr. Speaker, Canadians are losing their jobs by the thousands but the minister wants to bring in tens of thousands of temporary foreign workers, workers with no rights. According to his own department, these workers are often exploited and drive down Canadian wages. It takes [...]

February 10, 2009 Dear parents, 2009 should have been the year the federal government finally provided long-term, secure funding for early childhood education and child care. Instead, the Conservative government’s 2009 Federal Budget, supported by the Liberals, contains no help for child care for working Canadians. As a result, parents in Toronto will be facing [...]

The Initiative was launched to build a broad-based coalition of diverse stakeholders that are passionate about Canada becoming a world leader in making safe and healthy food available to all children and reshaping social, cultural, economic and environmental influences to optimally support child health. Founding supporters include Olivia Chow, MP (Trinity-Spadina), Breakfast for Learning, Foodshare [...]

February 18, 2009 – Toronto Down south in Obama land, an unemployed worker can receive employment insurance for 2 years. The American system provides $36 billion to provide employment insurance – with a longer period of benefits and more money.

February 4, 2009 – In The House – Ottawa Hon. Jack Layton (Toronto—Danforth, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the government’s efforts to meet the needs of families are truly a failure. We have learned that 6,000 spaces will be lost in Toronto. That means that 6,000 families will face a crisis and will have to find care [...]

January 27, 2009 OTTAWA – Ms. Olivia Chow (Trinity—Spadina, NDP): Mr. Speaker, happy new year of the ox. Just like Canadians, the ox is strong, determined and hard-working. The lunar new year deserves a new beginning, a fresh start. Hard-working Canadians need a new political direction and a new government that believes in a green [...]

For Immediate Release January 27, 2009-Ottawa “Children are not a priority for the current government,” laments Child care critic, Olivia Chow. “The entire world knows that we need to put our children first.  Why isn’t the Conservative government getting the message?” said Chow.

January 15, 2009 Dear Advocate for early learning and child care, This year, 2009, will be the year when the Federal Government finally provides long-term, secured funding for early childhood education and child care. Our government will work with community partners, parents and other levels of government to establish a framework that will deliver high-quality, [...]

We want to know what you think. Answer any of the following questions, then email your answers to MP Olivia Chow at chowo@parl.gc.ca, or you can send a letter to 144 Augusta Avenue. GENERAL BUDGETARY POLICY 1. Do you agree that the top priority for the government’s 2008 budget should be an economic stimulus package? [...]

June 27, 2008 Working families and their children have been demanding the Federal government enact legislation to provide a national high quality, universally accessible, affordable, and non-profit early learning and child care program.