While the glitz and glamour of the American Elections ensnares us on a daily basis, we have to remember to focus on our own Federal Election AND our civic election this fall too.
Harper is hell bent on getting a majority government. I personally do not want that to happen. I like minorities..it means they have to fight a little harder for their policies. I like my politicians to sweat a little.
Prior to Mr. Harper, the Liberals were discussing a ‘universal childcare’ program, similar to the one in Quebec.
Harper squashed that and gave us all a hundred bucks a month instead for children under 6.
This assumes..I suppose, that childcare is cheap and that after age 6 you don’t need any help.
Or that we all have parents at home.
I am truly blessed to be able to stay at home. We work hard for that. We also realized that childcare would cost more than I could ever earn out in the workforce.
I see families and single parents struggle with this all the time.
Even in my neighbourhood which has many ‘at home’ care places as well as schools and community centres that provide after school care.
But it is still expensive. And still tough.
I received a press release for a program called ‘Code Blue for Child Care‘ from Kathleen O’Grady who is handling media relations for this.
“Quality child care not only helps parents enter and stay in the
workforce, it also helps pay for itself through higher tax revenues from
working parents,” states Jody Dallaire, Chair of the Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada, a national non-profit advocacy organization that addresses the need for child care funding across the country.
“It also improves health outcomes, sets the foundation for lifelong
learning and reduces costs for social and health services later in life.
The reality is that Canada needs child care in good economic times and
bad,” says Dallaire.Code Blue is specifically calling on all party leaders for a commitment
of $1.2 billion for early learning and child care programs in the first
year. ”
There is an event in Ottawa to highlight this issue…..
Parents, children, child care staff and advocates from across Canada will gather for a race at an
Ottawa-area child care centre.This event will feature Canada “racing” against similar countries to
demonstrate Canada’s funding commitment to early learning and child care
programs. Sadly, we already know that Canada comes in last.WHO: Parents, Child Care Advocates from Across Canada
WHAT: The “child care race”
WHERE: Andrew Fleck — 195 George Street, Ottawa
WHEN: Monday September 22, 10 a.m.
If you are in Ottawa and can attend, please let me know what it was like.
Like our healthcare, I believe that proper childcare is crucial to all people across Canada. We need to maintain a strong society where people can work without the stress and anguish of dealing with inadequate care for their children.
Perhaps the ladies over at BlogHers Act Canada would be interested in this.
I would also LOVE to hear what the parties think about this…I would love to hear from The Conservatives, The Liberal Party, The NDP, and The Green Party about this one issue.
I would love to share something here and on Wet Coast Women.
God, I love Twitter. I DM’d Mr Layton or whoever is handling is online presence and they got back a super fast answer….awesome!
Here is the NDP’s answer to the Child Care issue. Not much detail but fair enough.
Elizabeth May of the Green Party DM’d this “Our policies would create universal access to childcare as well as support to parents who chose to stay home.”
Raul says
Good stuff, Kerry! Let’s get this election thingie started!
Rauls last blog post..Call for recruits: Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC)
Redneck Mommy says
How I wished I lived in Ottawa so I’d be able to attend. The tories idea of tossing a hundred bucks to kids under six has rankled me from the day they announced it.
Bunch of twits.
Redneck Mommys last blog post..Cellphones, Teenagers and the Art of War
corgimom says
So from America: In 2001 Bush gave us each $300 and within days our Twin Towers and Pentagon fell. This summer he gave everyobe $600 and the entire world community collapsed. So beware of a lesser, but no less bewildering fate as a result your $100 per child under 6 years.
And Crunch I agree, we need minorities to make things take some time to think through and be communicated far and wide.
corgimoms last blog post..Harvests and Mantids