‘THINK OF THE KIDS’: Trudeau signs $37B childcare deal 'locked-in' for future governments

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday announced $37 billion in childcare programs with 11 provinces and territories and has attempted to make it irrevocable “for future governments.”

Trudeau, who is supposedly days away from resigning as prime minister to be replaced by the winner of the March 9 Liberal leadership contest, said this is just the base funding for the program, which he’s promised until 2031.

The deal aims to create more spaces in $10-a-day childcare programs.

Trudeau said his government has structured the early learning and childcare program, as well as other Trudeau Liberal social programs, so that the “structural changes” made over the last decade will be “locked-in.”

“I've been working with our provincial and territorial partners to make sure that families can rely on this system, not just for years to come, but will allow this system to lock-in to become something that no government a year from now, five years from now, 20 years from now, could ever go back on,” Trudeau said at a press conference.

“It's hard to do because there is nothing one government can do that can't be undone by the following government, unless Canadians are very clear on the need to keep this going. So we’re going to make sure that more Canadians over the coming years understand that childcare is a foundational building block of what it means to be Canadian, like healthcare, social programs, cheering the Canadian anthem.”

Trudeau said his government’s thinking has always been not just for the short-term, but how to “change Canada for the better, in resilient ways, for the future right across the country, for decades and generations to come.”

““Some of those things that we have done that will shape the country for the long-term are seen and relied upon by Canadians now and into the coming years, so that no political party, regardless of ideology, will ever think it is a good idea to take away some of these foundations,” said Trudeau.

“We don't have lots of debates [with] Conservatives who want to privatize health care.”

Alberta and Saskatchewan did not participate in the deal.

The breakdown of spending is as follows, according to an emailed statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

• $16.77 billion to Ontario

• $9.83 billion to Quebec

• $5.38 billion to British Columbia

• $1.9 billion to Manitoba

• $1.05 billion to Nova Scotia

• $876 million to New Brunswick

• $503 million to Newfoundland and Labrador

• $199 million to Prince Edward Island

• $109 million to Nunavut

• $80 million to the Northwest Territories

• $74 million to the Yukon

Trudeau opened the press conference by confirming he spoke with President Donald Trump on Wednesday in a call that he called both “colourful” and “substantive.”

He said when he spoke with Trump, he “reiterated the facts: our border is secure.”

He said he told the president the tariffs would only hurt Americans, and the two countries should work together to “get these tariffs — all tariffs — removed.”

“In the meantime, we’ll be taking action to support Canadians in the tough times ahead.

When asked about Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly’s remarks on Wednesday calling Trump’s tariff war “psycho-drama,” and what he would call it, Trudeau replied, “Thursday.”

“This has been the honour of my life, serving Canadians," said Trudeau.