Based on my experience in investigating that specific issue in a number of European countries and other countries, it is very clearly established that early childhood education, when linked with child care services of the highest quality, actually increases the store of knowledge and the acceleration of development of all of the human capacities that are needed for vital economic growth.
Simultaneously, it gives parents the confidence and security they need, knowing that their children are making the very best use of their time possible while the large number of families who have to have more than one income have to go out into paid work. It's a very synergistic combination of resources.
As I outlined in my formal submission, Canada can easily fund, with some of the money that is already being used for various forms of child care and paying for various types of care, a program of that dimension with approximately $7 billion to $9 billion per year. It would add a lot.