The New Democratic Party will introduce proposals for a national child care act when Parliament resumes in April, MP Olivia Chow said Thursday.

Chow, speaking at a news conference in her Toronto riding, likened the NDP's plan to the Canada Health Act.

"Only through legislation can we protect and build on the existing child-care agreements the federal government has forged with the provinces," said Chow.

Stephen Harper's new Conservative government must honour the agreements the Liberals signed with the provinces last year, the NDP said in a news release.

"The provinces need to know their child-care commitment is sustainable, not being phased out within a year," it said.

The Liberals campaigned on a $5-billion child-care plan based on multi-year deals signed with the provinces in 2005.

Harper campaigned on a plan to phase out the deals beginning in 2007, and introduce $250 million in tax credits and $1,200 a year for each child. He has also pledged to create 125,000 child-care spaces within five years.

With 29 seats, the NDP could hold the balance of power in the 125-seat Conservative minority government.

All three opposition parties opposed the Tory plan throughout the campaign.

But Sara Landriault, from Fund the Child Movement, a national parenting group, criticized Chow's proposals for not addressing the needs of stay-at-home parents.

Landriault acknowledged the importance of day care, but said Chow seems to be favouring day care over help for stay at home parents.

"They are putting day care on a pedestal and parenting on the bottom," Landriault said.