Among the multiplicity of objectives that high quality child care can meet is the pivotal goal of promoting equality for women. This paper identifies what has been happening in child care over the last decade, describes policy options for the commencement of Canada's long-recommended national child care policy, and suggests that a successful resolution to the child care dilemma would serve as a good test for assessing the effectiveness of the new social union. Topics covered are: deficit reduction and devolution; downsizing and deregulation; the impacts on women; promises, promises; can Canada work without child care.