A national advocacy organization is calling for an end to the shortage of child care spaces.

Child Care Now says the country is missing hundreds of thousands of licensed spaces.

Isabelle Forest, coordinator for the New Brunswick chapter, said it is time for governments to urgently address the problem.

“In a cost of living crisis, Canadian families can’t find a child care space when they need it,” Forest said in a news release.

The organization is calling for a $17-billion federal investment over three years.

The money would be used to provide equitable wages for early childhood educators.

As well as to fund capital costs for more early learning and child care programs across Canada.

The calls came as part of the National Day of Action on Child Care and Early Learning on Thursday.