No doubt about it — the federal NDP has moved childcare front and centre. 

Reaction to the party’s childcare proposal elicited a wide range of responses. The Twittersphere and traditional media exploded after Tom Mulcair’s press conference last week as fans and foes of a universal, affordable, national childcare system debated whether such a system is needed or wanted — and whose responsibility childcare is anyway? 

Perhaps most interesting was the backlash the proposal elicited with respect to the unfairness of allowing wealthier families to participate.

With the federal budget set to return to balance this fiscal year, we can once again debate how to deal with future surpluses. Priority could be given to paying down the debt, cutting taxes, or re-investing in public services and social programs.

These options should be judged on how much they contribute to a stronger economy as well as a fairer and more inclusive society.

OTTAWA—The Broadbent Institute is pleased to announce that Hugh Segal, Master of Massey College at the University of Toronto, will be interviewing renowned economist and author Robert Reich following Reich's keynote address at the Institute's second annual Progress Gala in November in Toronto.

Leader of the Opposition Thomas Mulcair has launched a new round of debate over the need for a national child care and early learning program. The NDP poposal would help the provinces to finance quality, affordable child care systems, delivered by regulated providers in place of the current patchwork quilt of formal and informal care of varying price and quality.