Serious Consequences with Harper's Approach to Child Care

Meeting called by MFL to launch efforts to fight dismantling of child care program.

After much prodding by the NDP, the former federal Liberal government introduced long term child care funding that would increase child care spaces and allow for improved wages for child care workers. Harper's Conservative government has said it will renege on that promise made by the Liberals. They are refusing to fund the child care initiatives by the provinces beyond 2007.

The result will be real difficulty in increasing child care spaces or workers' salaries when there is no long term funding in place. Unfortunately, Harper can do this without getting Parliament's approval, since it was a funding arrangement for a couple of years, with more only promised. The Liberal government never passed any legislation to make it the 'law of the land' that could only be changed by Parliament.

The Conservative's answer to child care needs is a $100 per month 'baby bonus' payment per child under six years old. The actual gain to parents will be much less than $100 per month since it will be a taxable benefit. The Conservative policy is no replacement for a proper child care strategy.

The Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada has joined with the Canadian Labour Congress in planning a campaign to change Harper's mind. In each province across the country, the Federations of Labour are joining in this national effort.

The Manitoba Federation of Labour has called a meeting of child care activists for Wednesday, March 15. Out of that meeting will come a coalition that will work to stop the Conservative agenda to dismantle the fledgling national child care program.