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Federal Tories admit tax incentives to create more child care spaces not working
Vancouver (30 Sept. 2007) - The hard work of Child Care - Let's Make It Happen! campaign supporters has led to passage of a unanimous resolution by the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) calling on federal and provincial governments to restore child care funding and build a quality early learning system with affordable and reliable care for all children.
Parksville councillor Sue Powell hails the development as significant recognition from local governments, including her own, that "quality public child care is good for our kids and our economy."
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| Child Care - Let's Make It Happen! - pdf. (Document no longer available). |
Powell says her own daughter and her husband cannot find affordable quality child care for their child. "They are working three jobs on alternating schedules just so one parent can always be at home to provide child care. That's hard on a young family," she says.
Susan Harney, chair of the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of B.C., says mayors and municipal council members are "dealing with the crisis in our communities" because of a lack of affordable, accessible child care spaces. "The B.C. and federal governments must listen and show some real leadership on this issue," she says.
The UBCM has now joined the B.C. Chamber of Commerce, the B.C. School Trustees Association, and the B.C. Libraries Association in passing strongly-worded resolutions calling for a reversal of cuts to child care and for the establishment of a universal, affordable, accessible public child care system.
Social Development Minister Monte Solberg admitted last week that the Harper government's promise to create 125,000 new child care spaces through tax incentives may not materialize.
Child Care - Let's Make It Happen! supporters are calling on the federal government to adopt Bill C-303, the federal NDP's Early Learning and Child Care Act. The bill, supported by all three opposition parties, is scheduled to return to the House of Commons in Ottawa this fall for final reading.
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