Harper Government Ignores Needs of Canadian Families

OTTAWA – The Conservatives’ decision to terminate the day care funding agreements reached by the Liberal government with the provinces shows that Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his government are out of touch with the reality of hard working Canadian families, said Liberal
Social Development Critic Dr. Carolyn Bennett.

As well, it would appear the Conservatives are also reneging on their election promise to send $1,200 annual childcare payments to families, said Dr. Bennett.

She pointed to Conservative Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s recent comments that child-care agreements will be terminated in favour of a “tax credit” for parents.

“A tax credit significantly waters down an already inadequate promise of about $20 a week that could only buy, on average, about one day’s worth of care,” said Dr. Bennett.

“The Conservatives’ decision to cancel our program will leave children, families and communities in the lurch. Today in Canada, 84 per cent of families with children have both parents in the workforce. Simply put, child care is an everyday necessity in Canada, and this is a reality the Conservative government needs to acknowledge.”

They also need clarify their election promise, she said. “All along the Conservatives have been talking about cutting cheques to parents with small children. Now suddenly it’s a ‘tax credit.’ Did Mr. Flaherty misspeak, or was he trying to slip through the back door yet another broken election promise?

“If it is the latter, this is even more disturbing than their initial platform. The Conservatives need to clear this up immediately so that parents – and all taxpayers – know whether or not they were duped,” she said.

The dismantling of the ten existing early learning and child care agreements between Ottawa and the provinces means the loss of more than $4.3 billion in federal funding, Dr. Bennett said.
“In many communities, the shovels are already in the ground for new daycare centres. Families who desperately need spaces have their children on waiting lists. If they cancel these agreements, it means that new spaces won’t be created, new facilities will not be built, and working parents families will be forced to find unlicensed child care solutions for their children.

“Why would the Conservative government cancel the agreements when it is clear that the provinces want them to be honoured?”

In Ontario alone, the Conservative government’s decision will leave about 25,000 day care spaces in limbo. But instead of addressing the issue, the Conservative minister responsible for child care, Diane Finley, has refused to return calls from Ontario’s provincial minister of children and youth services.

It doesn’t seem that Mr. Harper or Ms. Finley is willing to act in the best interests of Canada’s children and their families.

The bottom line is simple – the agreements should be honoured. Canadian families deserve better.