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EXCERPTS
Since Stephen Harper's party came to power on Feb. 1, 2006, there has been an ongoing debate over who should be responsible for funding child care -- the three choices being the three levels of government: federal, provincial or municipal.
Harper pulled the plug on the previous government's child-care program. Former Liberal prime minister Paul Martin had channelled funding to the provincial governments, to ensure adequate subsidies were available to needy families. It also made allowances to increase the number of regulated child- care spaces.
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The consequences of Harper's actions are that both the Ontario government and the Regional Municipality of Waterloo have been looking toward each other to cover the losses .
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The provincial and municipal governments were both hoping the other level of government would contribute more, and that they would not have to contribute as much in order to compensate for the loss of federal funding.
I am a child-care worker and as I watch the three levels of government I feel as though I am watching the children in our storytime circle play Hot Potato, Pass It On.
Mary Stolch, Kitchener
- reprinted from The Record