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Non-profit day cares vow to fight Charest's cuts: Opposed to limits on $5-a-day care [CA-QC]

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Author: 
Suresh, Bindu
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Article
Publication Date: 
9 Jun 2003
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Nadine Maltais said she hopes other parents will join the fight against the Charest government's proposed changes to the $5-a-day day care system.

Appalled parents and members of non-profit day cares met yesterday at Au Pays du Schtroumpfs, a day-care centre in eastern Montreal. At a news conference, they denounced new measures which allow private day cares to open 3,000 new spaces, and the possibility of raising day-care fees for more affluent families.

Diane Vandy, president of the Association quebecoise des centres de la petite enfance, said income should not be considered because wealthier families already pay higher taxes. "All children deserve the same quality, whether parents are rich or poor."

Quebecers "battled, battled and battled," for universal $5-a-day day care, she said.

Non-profit day care members are also upset the government has allowed the creation of 3,000 new private day-care spaces.

Though private centres may be able to open more quickly, quality will suffer, said Francine Lessard, manager of the association.

Sylvain Levesque, president of the Association des garderies privees du Quebec, replied that private centres provide the same quality of care. "We need to respect all the rules and regulations that the public centres do," he said.

-Reprinted from The Montreal Gazette

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