Media releases

Danger ahead: Harper's Canada does not include child care. An open letter to Canadians

OCBCC, Toronto, 22 Jun 04

We believe that every child in Canada deserves high quality child care. In this election, three of the major political parties agree.

The Liberals have promised national legislation and an additional $5 billion over five years to build a universally accessible early learning and child care program; the New Democrats propose a similar program over four years. The Bloc Québécois wants federal funding to expand Quebec’s innovative child care system.

The Conservative platform is silent on child care. Instead, Conservative leader Stephen Harper has declared that "rather than boost spending on institutional daycare, we'll offer tax breaks to families with children, no matter how they are raised" (May 28, Saskatoon). His proposed across-the-board tax deduction of $2,000 per child would be worth a few hundred dollars for modest and middle-income families and nothing for the poorest families.

While Mr. Harper is trying to make it one, child care is not an ideological or marginal issue. Canadians agree with the experts - a well-designed early childhood program provides parenting resources as it promotes the healthy development of young children and enables parents to work or study. The presence of child care on this election reflects its importance as a popular, cost-effective response to many of our country's most pressing challenges including:

Health. A child’s early development has a significant impact on mental and physical health risks in later life, and high quality child care is an asset to healthy early development.

Poverty. Child care provides a two-prong benefit by allowing low income parents to work or upgrade skills at the same time as it ensures that their children are not placed at risk due to their families’ socio-economic circumstances.

Women's equity. In the words of Justice Rosalie Abella: “Child care is the ramp to equality in the workplace for women." Without it, women cannot fully participate in the economic, social, cultural and political life of their communities.

Investing in the knowledge-based economy. Skills training and life-long learning are the kingpins of Canada’s “Innovation Strategy”. Research by economists such as Nobel Prize winner James Heckman indicates that public investments in young children are the key to innovation, yielding a higher return than most economic initiatives.

Social inclusion. Child care contributes to vibrant communities and makes a multifaceted contribution to the socio-economic, gender, cultural and ethnic harmony Canadians value.

Today Canada is being outpaced as the value of early learning and child care is recognized internationally. European government leaders have agreed to provide publicly funded child care for most children in the European Union by 2010 and many U.S. states now provide full day programs for many preschoolers. Indeed, many developing countries are making early learning a priority.

This is the kind of forward thinking leadership Canada requires. On June 28th we are asking Canadians to vote with the future of our children and our country in mind.

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This letter was released via the media on Tuesday, June 22, 2004. We encourage supporting individuals and organizations to sign on by emailing kira@childcareontario.org.
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THERE IS STILL TIME TO SIGN ON TO THE LETTER BEFORE THE ELECTION (JUNE 28) EMAIL: kira@childcareontario.org
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en Francais:

Attention: le Canada de Harper exclut les services de garde d’enfants

Lettre à la population canadienne – juin 2004

Nous croyons que chaque enfant du Canada mérite des services de garde de qualité. Pendant la campagne électorale en cours, trois des principaux partis politiques en conviennent.

Les Libéraux ont promis d’adopter une loi nationale et d’affecter 5
milliards de dollars de plus en cinq ans pour créer un programme à accès universel de garde d’enfants et d’éducation de la petite enfance. Le NPD propose de réaliser un programme semblable en quatre ans. Le Bloc Québécois veut obtenir des fonds fédéraux pour élargir le programme innovateur du Québec en matière de garde d’enfants.

Le programme des Conservateurs n’indique rien au sujet des services de garde d’enfants. Stephen Harper, chef du Parti conservateur, a en fait déclaré: « plutôt que d’accroître les dépenses au titre des garderies, nous offrirons des réductions d’impôt aux familles comprenant des enfants, quelle que soit la façon dont ils sont élevés » (Saskatoon, le 28 mai). La déduction d’impôt
générale de 2 000 $ par enfant permettrait aux familles à revenu faible ou moyen d’économiser quelques centaines de dollars et n’aiderait nullement les familles les plus pauvres.

Bien que ce soit ce que M. Harper s’efforce d’en faire, les services de
garde d’enfants ne sont pas une question idéologique ou marginale. La population canadienne convient avec les spécialistes qu’un programme bien conçu d’éducation de la première enfance assure des ressources aux parents car il favorise un développement sain des jeunes enfants et permet aux parents de travailler ou d’étudier. Le fait que les services de garde d’enfants soient l’un des dossiers traités pendant la campagne électorale en cours témoigne de leur importance en tant que réponse populaire et économique à bon nombre des défis les plus pressants qu’il faut relever au Canada, y compris les suivants :

Santé. Le développement du jeune enfant a un effet considérable sur les risques pour sa santé mentale et physique ultérieure, et la disponibilité de services de garde d’enfants de qualité favorise un sain développement de la petite enfance.

Pauvreté. Les services de garde d’enfants présentent des avantages sur deux plans en permettant aux parents à faible revenu de travailler ou d’acquérir des compétences et en voyant à ce que leurs enfants ne soient pas mis en péril à cause des circonstances socio?économiques de leur famille.

Accès des femmes à l’équité. Comme l’a dit la juge Rosalie Abella, « les services de garde d’enfants sont un tremplin vers l’égalité en milieu de travail pour les femmes ». À défaut de ces services, les femmes ne peuvent pas participer pleinement à la vie économique, sociale, culturelle et politique de leur communauté.

Investissement dans l’économie du savoir. La formation professionnelle et l’éducation permanente sont les pierres angulaires de la Stratégie d’innovation du Canada. Les recherches réalisées par des économistes tels que le prix Nobel James Heckman indiquent que l’investissement public dans les jeunes enfants est la clé de l’innovation et rapporte plus que la plupart des initiatives économiques.

Intégration sociale. Les services de garde d’enfants contribuent à la vie des communautés et apporte une contribution à bien des égards à l’harmonie socio-économique, des sexes, culturelle et ethnique que prisent les Canadiens et les Canadiennes.

Le Canada perd du terrain à mesure que la valeur de l’apprentissage de la petite enfance et les services de garde d’enfants est reconnue
internationalement. Des chefs d’État européens ont consenti à accorder des services de garde d’enfants à financement public à la plupart des enfants de l’Union européenne d’ici 2010, et de nombreux États des États-Unis prévoient des programmes de garde à plein temps pour de nombreux enfants d’âge préscolaire. En fait, bien des pays en développement font de l’éducation de la petite enfance une priorité.

Le Canada a besoin de chefs qui favoriseront son avenir. Nous demandons aux Canadiens et Canadiennes de voter en pensant à l’avenir de nos enfants et de notre pays le 28 juin.

Signed by:

Groups/Organizations

Alberta Family Child Care Associations
Alternative Primary School and Nursery
Andrew Fleck Child Care Services, Ottawa
Association of Early Childhood Educators in Ontario (AECEO)
Biidaaban Children’s Centre, Sioux Lookout, ON
British Columbia Aboriginal Child Care Society
Campaign 2000
Campaign Against Child Poverty (CACP)
Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies
Canadian Association of Food Banks
Canadian Auto Workers (CAW)
Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)
Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW)
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
CUPE 2316, Toronto
Centre for Social Justice (CSJ)
Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada (CCAAC)
Child Care Coalition of Manitoba

Coalition for Women’s Equality (CWE) which includes the following Member Organizations, all of whom sign on:
National Association of Women and the Law (NAWL)
Womenspace
Canadian Feminist Alliance For International Action FAFIA)
Canadian Research Institute For The Advancement of Women (CRIAW)
MediaWatch
YWCA Canada
Fédération des femmes du Québec (FFQ)
National Organization of Immigrant and Visible Minority Women of
Canada (NOIVMWC)
National Action Committee on the Status of Women (NAC)

Coalition of Child Care Advocates of British Columbia (CCCABC)
Communication, Energy and Paperworkers of Canada (CEP)
Community Social Planning Council of Toronto
Dis-Abled Women’s Network (DAWN) Ontario
Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO)
First Adventure Child Development Centre, Belleville
Glenora Childcare Society, Edmonton
Global Child Care Services, Ottawa
Hamilton Public Library Daycare
Hawthorne Meadows Nursery School Inc., Ottawa
Jubilee Heritage Family Resources, Sudbury, ON
Kings Park Child Care, MB
Manitoba Association of Women and the Law
Manitoba Child Care Association (MCCA)
Milton Community Resource Centre
National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE)
Nellie’s (Toronto)
Norah Love Children’s Centre, Sioux Lookout, ON
North Bay Network for Social Action
Ontario Coalition for Social Justice (OCSJ)
Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL)
Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)
Ottawa Child Care Association
Parkview Children’s Centre, Burlington, ON
Pat Schulz Child Care, Toronto
Public Service Alliance Canada (PSAC)
Service a l’enfance Aladin Childcare Services, Ottawa
Sudbury Child Care Resources
Toronto Coalition for Better Child Care (TCBCC)
Toronto Women’s Call to Action
Unicorn Daycare, Toronto
United Nations Platform for Action Committee – Manitoba
United Steelworkers of America (USWA)
University of Guelph’s Parent Advisory Council
Wellington Ward Child Care, Ottawa
Whitney Child Centre, Toronto
Women’s Future Fund, Toronto
YWCA Child Development Centre, Saskatoon, SASK

Individuals
Associations recorded for identification purposes only

A. Fallah (parent), Ottawa
Alex Cullen (Councillor, City of Ottawa)
Alexa Cochrane, Ottawa
Alexandra Dillon (parent), Ottawa
Alice Skvaridlo, Ottawa
Alison Evers, Winnipeg, MB
Allison Soave, Toronto
Andrew Duggan, Ottawa
Ann Fitzpatrick, Toronto
Anna Willats, Toronto
Anne Grewar, Winnipeg, MB
Anne MacMeekin, Woodstock, ON
Anne Ricard, Ottawa
April de Voy, Guelph
Arlene Ross (Executive Director, Global Child Care Services), Ottawa
Barb Anello, North Bay
Bozica Costigliola, Ottawa
Brent Chandler, Toronto
Buzz Hargrove (Canadian Auto Workers), Toronto
Candace Vilhan, Ottawa, ON
Carl Sutherland, Ottawa, ON
Carol Stewart, Nipissing, ON
Caroline Morgan Di Giovanni (Steering Committee member, Campaign Against Child Poverty)
Cathy Crowe (Street Nurse)
Charles E. Pascal, Dr. (Professor, University of Toronto and Former Ontario Deputy Minister of Education)
Charles Seiden (Executive director, Canadian Association of Food Banks), Toronto
Cheryl DeGras (Supervisor, Infant and Toddler Program, University of Toronto Early Learning Centre)
Cindy Porter, Halifax, NS
Danielle Chandler, Toronto
David Longo (ECE)
Dawit Adem (parent), Ottawa
Deb Flanagan (Canadian Auto Workers), Bramalea, ON
Debbie Dunn, Ottawa
Debbie Milne, Belleville
Debra Mayer (Manitoba director, CCAAC), Winnipeg, MB
Diane O’Neil (Executive director, Service a l’enfance Aladin Childcare Services), Ottawa
Dianna Leeder, Barrie, ON
Dianne Jones-Pearson, Winnipeg, MB
Donna S. Lero, Ph.D. (Jarislowsky Chair in Families and Work, Centre for Families, Work and Well-Being, University of Guelph)
Eduarda Sousa, Toronto
Eleanor Heap, Ottawa
Elizabeth Williams (Andrew Fleck Child Care Services), Ottawa
Elyssa Marks (City of Toronto Children's Services)
Eric Mackey (Director, Unicorn Daycare), Toronto
Eva Heineck, Bracebridge, ON
Eve-Anne Tremblay (Early Childhood Educator), Toronto
Fiona Faucher, Ottawa
Fiona Nelson, community activist, Toronto
Fran Klodawsky (Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University)
Gaby Chauvet, Toronto
Gay Pagan, Winnipeg
Geovanna Longo (ECE, Hamilton Public Library Daycare)
Gerald Vandezande, C.M. (Steering Committee member, Campaign Against Child Poverty), Scarborough
Gina Strimas (Director, Alternative Primary School and Nursery), Toronto
Gordon Cleveland, Dr., Toronto
Harvey Cooper (Co-op Housing Federation – Ontario Region), Toronto
Heather Boyer (Chair, Windsor-Essex Child Care Action Network (WECCAN)), Windsor, ON
Heather Kelley (GLR, International Association of Machinists)
Helen Darby, Drumbo, ON
Helen Victoros, Toronto
Jacqueline Holler, Prince George, BC
Jamie Kass, Ottawa
Jane Beach (Social Policy consultant), Victoria, BC
Jane Bertrand (Early Childhood Education, George Brown College)
Janet Davis (Councillor, City of Toronto)
Janine Woehl, (ECE professor), Sarnia, ON
Javed Akbar (Steering Committee member, Campaign Against Child Poverty)
Jeffrey Zietlow, Toronto
Jen Adam, Ottawa
Jen Harrington, Ottawa
Jim Jütte, Waterdown, ON
Joan Gullen (Hawthorne Meadows Nursery School Inc.), Ottawa
Jo-Ann Hightower, Ottawa
Joanne Marusyk
Joe Mihevic (Councillor, City of Toronto)
John Godfrey (MP, Don Valley West), Toronto
Jordana Berger (Health Services Manager, Access Alliance MCHC), Toronto
Joyce Hawthorne, Peterborough
Julie White (Canadian Auto Workers), Toronto
June Callwood (Writer, activist and Co-chair, Campaign Against Child Poverty)
Karen Balcom, Dr. (Assistant Professor of History and Women’s Studies, McMaster University), Hamilton ON
Karen Chandler (George Brown College, Early Childhood Development Department)
Karen Martin, Ottawa
Karen Steinhoff (Research and Communiciations, CUPW), Ottawa
Kathleen Wynne (MPP, Don Valley West, Ontario)
Kelly Massaro-Joblin, Thunder Bay
Kim Challenger (Whitney Child Centre), Toronto
Kim Fry (Coordinator, OCSJ), Toronto
Kim Sabourin, Ottawa
Laurel Rothman (Community Activist), Toronto
Lilas Lysne
Lillian Perigoe, Toronto, ON
Linda Briskin, Ph.D. (Professor, Social Services Division/School of Women’s Studies, York University)
Lorie Peacock, St. Catharines, ON
Lois Mahon, Sudbury, ON
Margaret Action (Pat Schulz Child Care), Toronto
Marianne M. Park (Social Services consultant and DAWN Ontario board member), Woodstock, ON
Marta Juorio, Saskatoon, SK
Martha Friendly (Childcare Research and Resource Unit, UofT), Toronto
Mary-Anne Bedard, Toronto
Maura Parker, Ottawa
Nancy Dingwall, Hamilton, ON
Natalie Weller, Beaumont, Alberta
Nazee Popal, Ottawa
Nythalah Baker, Vernon, BC
Olie Lee (Canadian Child Care Federation Member Council Representative, Saskatchewan)
Pam Kent, Napanne, ON
Pat Wege (Executive director, MCCA) Winnipeg, MB
Patrick Beaudry (parent), Ottawa
Pedro Barata, Toronto
Peggy Nash (NDP Candidate - Parkdale High Park), Toronto
Phillip Blancher (Grenvilee Networks), Prescott, ON
Rabbi Arthur Bielfeld (Co-chair, Campaign Against Child Poverty)
Rev. Brian Burch (President, St. Clare’s Multifaith Housing Society)
Rev. John Perigoe (Mission through Finance, Support to Local Ministries, The United Church of Canada)
Rhonda Wiebe, Winnipeg, MB
Richard Challenger (Whitney Child Centre), Toronto
Rod McCormack, Toronto
Sandra Griffin, Almonte, ON
Sandy Kendel (Director, EMU School Age Centre), Winnipeg, MB
Sharon D. Taylor (Assitant director, KINDERWORLD)
Sheri Hinks, Guelph, ON
Sinead Rafferty, Toronto
Sofia Reno (Early childhood educator and co-chair of CUPE Local 79 Child Care Committee and Municipal Representative of Social Services WCC Child Care Sub-Committee, CUPE Ontario), Toronto
Steve Cook (Youth Representative and Executive board member, Waterloo Regional Labour Council)
Sue Johnston (Coordinator, Orde Day Care)
Sue Parker, Toronto
Susan Bureau, Ottawa
Susan Colley, Toronto
Susan Prentice, Ph.D., Winnipeg, MB
Susele Rodriquez, Toronto
Susy Komishin, Dauphin, MB
Sylvie L. Dauphinais (Director, Heirtabe Child Care Center), Ottawa
Terri Gilchrist, Ottawa
Tom Holland, Ottawa
Tracy Lamoureux, Ottawa
Val Keeler (ABE Instructor, Northern Lights College), Fort Nelson, BC
Virginia Thomson (Supervisor, Junction Daycare), Toronto
Yvonne Thayaparan, Scarborough
Zofia Sonia Worotynec, Toronto

+ staff at McMurrich Sprouts Daycare, Toronto
Alexa Campbell
Andrea Rao
Angela Balestra
Anna Tavares
Antonia Marmol
Cheryl Clifford
Dany Brainin
Elizabeth Szwaj
Isabel Ferreira
Janet Cioffi
Jennifer Campbell
Keisha Maitland
Kim Fantauzzi
Maureen Myers
Minh Hoang
Partricia Haynes
Ruth Stumpf
Sonia Mena
Susan De Georgio
Teresa McCarthy

+parents and staff in Dryden, Ontario
Mella Gosnell
Pam Moore
Ron Petit
Pam Fortier
Teresa Pollard
Shelley Davis
Brian Merritt
Jen Oberg
Shelley Coles
Cathy Gamble
Kim Cuthbert
Jocelyn Bullock
Cathy Ripley
Barb Savage
Heidi Peskett
Angela Monty
Suzanne Snow
Scott Urquhart
Michael Loewen
Sherri Rogers
Tracy Walter
Diane Szmon
Cheryl Parsons-Sheldrake
Bob McKeever
Fran Shahi
Colleen Wood
T. L. Randell
Barbara Buffett
Tammy Benson
Donna L. Morrow
Terri Boissonneault
Carolyn Wilson
Janice Shepherd
Jo-Anne Harrison
Lisa Faber
Nicky Robinson
Glenda Johnson
Barbara Avanthey
Sherryn Pearson
Vince Gardner
Doris Bullock
Lynn Carlson

+staff at Walden Day Care Centre Inc., Sudbury, ON
CENTRE BASE LIST

Alana Saunders
Amanda McLeod
Angie Lanktree
Brenda Bowland
Cam McLeod
Carolee Mclaren
Cheryl Gutjhar
Colleen Strange
Damon Ferris
Dawn Cunningham
Debbie Mackinnon
Derek Butler
Gina Gifford
Gina McAfee
Ginger Sheppard
Heather Katarincic
Janene Parr
Janet Goode
Janice Mackinnon
Jason Crawford
Jennifer Miller
Kara Legault
Kelly Longarini
Kim Ogston
Laura Dupuis
Lisa Reeves
Lori Leeson
Lucia Caufield
Maren Ferris
Marlene Ross
Mary-Lou Coffey
Mona Smith
Natalie Perron
Norma Bonhomme
Paula Cunningham
Rita Powlesland
Roxanne Bellmore
Sandy Mackean-Deforge
Susan Dopson
Suzie Tucker
Terry Deforge-Mackean
Wendy St. John

FAMILY HOME LIST

Beverly Hillson
Chantelle Richardson
Christine Linton
Dawn Moore
Debra Quick
Denise Robillard
Glorie Marcoux
Karry Streleski
Kerri-Anne Blais
Laura Schell
Marlene Courroux
Michelle Lawrence
Pamela Dryland
Patrick Therrien
Rebekah Hewett
Rita Bradley
Rose Michael
Shelley Buratynski
Susan Cormier
Suzy Nicholas
Vitra Teolis

Contact: Kira Heineck, Executive Director, OCBCC - kira@childcarecanada.org - tel:416.538.0628 ex3