Excerpts from press release:
The NDP is taking a major step forward for children and working families today, with landmark legislation designed to protect and build quality child care for future generations.
The Early Learning and Child Care Act will be introduced in the House of Commons by Denise Savoie, MP for Victoria, and seconded by NDP Child Care Critic Olivia Chow (Trinity&em;Spadina). Savoie says that the goal is to protect child care by enshrining it in legislation, after years of empty promises, false starts and setbacks by the Mulroney Conservative government, four successive Liberal governments and now the Harper Conservatives, who have eliminated child care funding in the new budget.
"This Early Learning and Child Care Act is designed to establish national child care, once and for all &em; to make it impossible for governments to play games with this important issue," said Savoie. "No more steps backward. With this Act, we can move forward.
"This Child Care Act should be a cornerstone of Canada, just like the Canada Health Act. This Act recognizes the changes we have seen in this country and around the world in the last generation.
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"New Democrats are not going to turn our backs on child care &em; it is not a done deal, just because the government has proceeded with its bogus $1200 allowance," added Chow. "This NDP legislation is based on the principles of quality, universality, accessibility, accountability, educational development and inclusiveness. It is essential to ensure that public money goes to not-for profit centres, not to big box child care corporations which cut corners.
"The government may think that the debate is over. By introducing this Act, we plan to keep the debate alive. We will not let years of progress be wiped out by a stroke of the pen…"