Conservatives slammed over lack of daycare spaces
CBC.ca
The Conservative government has not produced any new child-care spaces despite promising before the election a year ago to create 25,000 spots within 12 months, critics say.
In a report to be released Thursday, the Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada calls on the government to abandon its plan, which it describes as piecemeal. The non-profit group demands the government come up with a more comprehensive strategy.
"There has not been one new space created," said Monica Lysack, the association's executive director told CBC News.
"Somewhere around 80 per cent of children don't have access to licensed early learning child care programs. So there's a huge need."
During the campaign before the Conservatives won the election of Jan. 23, 2006, Harper promised to ease the childcare crunch. He promised to give families $1,200 a year per child under six. Parents have been getting their cheques since July.
Harper also said a Conservative government would create 125,000 spaces over five years with the help of the private sector and non-profit organizations which would get a $10,000 tax credit for every space created.
"We figure we'll reasonably create about 25,000 spaces a year," Harper said then.
A year later, no spaces have been created and the plan for more spaces hasn't been completed yet.
7,000 on waiting list in Ottawa alone
In Ottawa alone, 7,000 children are on a waiting list for licensed child care spaces — a problem seen across the country.
'It could be up to a two-year wait to find a spot in a registered day care in Ottawa.'
-Ottawa resident Rachel InchOttawa resident Rachel Inch said she's worried about what to do about child care for her 5½-month-old daughter when she returns to work.
"It could be up to a two-year wait to find a spot in a registered day care in Ottawa," she said.
Victoria Sopic, the president of Kids and Company, a company that creates day care spaces for corporations, said business has lots of interest in child care.
"We launched our business four years ago. And in the last four years, we've had over 300 companies that have signed up to be clients," said Sopic, who was appointed to sit on a committee to advise the Harper government on how to implement its plan.
Not all businesses have room for child care
But Catherine Swift of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business said not everyone in the business community is able to provide space for child care.
"It may work with a larger company on a large premises. But the small- and medium-sized business sector, it's not likely to be practical."
Monte Solberg, who became minister of human resources and social development in the cabinet shuffle on Jan. 4, was not available to comment. His office said he was still learning the file.
Our response,
"Care of the Child" Coalition and "Fund the Child" Movement would like to see the current government strengthen its childcare plan to deliver more choice to all parents. Childcare can be defined in many ways, such as daycare, home care, parental care, family care etc... we who believe in Fund the Child would like to see more funding flowing directly to the parents. Income splitting, refundable tax credits and tax breaks would be a better solution for all who use the many forms of childcare rather than directing it to only a one style daycare system.
We as a coalition of parents who represent different choices in childcare understand the needs of the child is greater than the needs of the system. We would like to call on Monte Solberg current Min of Social Development to upgrade the current Childcare plan of $100 per month per child under 6 to a higher amount and a longer term for the age groups and keep the status of the funding going directly to the parents.
The "Care of the Child" Coalition stand on two points for childcare.
1. The parents must be the primary caregiver, and decision makers.
2. The funding MUST flow with the child.
Thank you,
Sara Landriault
Stay at home mom
Spokesperson for "Care of the Child" Coalition
http://fundthechild.blogspot.com
The Conservative government has not produced any new child-care spaces despite promising before the election a year ago to create 25,000 spots within 12 months, critics say.
In a report to be released Thursday, the Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada calls on the government to abandon its plan, which it describes as piecemeal. The non-profit group demands the government come up with a more comprehensive strategy.
"There has not been one new space created," said Monica Lysack, the association's executive director told CBC News.
"Somewhere around 80 per cent of children don't have access to licensed early learning child care programs. So there's a huge need."
During the campaign before the Conservatives won the election of Jan. 23, 2006, Harper promised to ease the childcare crunch. He promised to give families $1,200 a year per child under six. Parents have been getting their cheques since July.
Harper also said a Conservative government would create 125,000 spaces over five years with the help of the private sector and non-profit organizations which would get a $10,000 tax credit for every space created.
"We figure we'll reasonably create about 25,000 spaces a year," Harper said then.
A year later, no spaces have been created and the plan for more spaces hasn't been completed yet.
7,000 on waiting list in Ottawa alone
In Ottawa alone, 7,000 children are on a waiting list for licensed child care spaces — a problem seen across the country.
'It could be up to a two-year wait to find a spot in a registered day care in Ottawa.'
-Ottawa resident Rachel InchOttawa resident Rachel Inch said she's worried about what to do about child care for her 5½-month-old daughter when she returns to work.
"It could be up to a two-year wait to find a spot in a registered day care in Ottawa," she said.
Victoria Sopic, the president of Kids and Company, a company that creates day care spaces for corporations, said business has lots of interest in child care.
"We launched our business four years ago. And in the last four years, we've had over 300 companies that have signed up to be clients," said Sopic, who was appointed to sit on a committee to advise the Harper government on how to implement its plan.
Not all businesses have room for child care
But Catherine Swift of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business said not everyone in the business community is able to provide space for child care.
"It may work with a larger company on a large premises. But the small- and medium-sized business sector, it's not likely to be practical."
Monte Solberg, who became minister of human resources and social development in the cabinet shuffle on Jan. 4, was not available to comment. His office said he was still learning the file.
Our response,
"Care of the Child" Coalition and "Fund the Child" Movement would like to see the current government strengthen its childcare plan to deliver more choice to all parents. Childcare can be defined in many ways, such as daycare, home care, parental care, family care etc... we who believe in Fund the Child would like to see more funding flowing directly to the parents. Income splitting, refundable tax credits and tax breaks would be a better solution for all who use the many forms of childcare rather than directing it to only a one style daycare system.
We as a coalition of parents who represent different choices in childcare understand the needs of the child is greater than the needs of the system. We would like to call on Monte Solberg current Min of Social Development to upgrade the current Childcare plan of $100 per month per child under 6 to a higher amount and a longer term for the age groups and keep the status of the funding going directly to the parents.
The "Care of the Child" Coalition stand on two points for childcare.
1. The parents must be the primary caregiver, and decision makers.
2. The funding MUST flow with the child.
Thank you,
Sara Landriault
Stay at home mom
Spokesperson for "Care of the Child" Coalition
http://fundthechild.blogspot.com
posted by Sara @ 8:30 AM
20 Comments:
At 8:51 AM,
Beverley Smith said…
Problem not admitted by the daycare advocacy group is that they want government to provide $10,000 or more per child for their business but are more than happy to make sure that nothing is provided to parents who don't use their business. Sadly that is a tad unequal.
What we need is funding of equal amount for all kids. SOme will seek out daycare with it, some dayhomes, some will offset salary loss of parent or grandparent who are caregivers. That concept would stop playing favorites with kids.
The daycare group is passionate about kids, its kids. It should be passionate about all kids in the country. All children already are in childcare situations - getting care of a child. Fund it where it happens. It's more efficient.
At 9:02 AM,
The Strong Conservative said…
Since when is it the government's job to look after people's kids? Is that not the job of the parents?
Government is supposed to provide public safety (i.e. police), justice, infrastructure, national defense, and perhaps a basic social safety net. Anything more leads to socialism and cultural collapse, just look at Europe... there are hardly any kids!
At 9:10 AM,
Anonymous said…
The daycare lobby is very transparent.
Not only do I question the numbers given in the article(7,000 in Ottawa? Prove it), but there is absolutely NO GUARANTEE that money given by the feds. to the provinces will EVER go to the grassroot daycares.
If I recall, I don't believe one daycare space was created under Martin's Liberals either. Many promises and "political" cash spoken about at election time but no action.
The choice is ours. Parents can choose to have the state raise their children, or do it themselves. Just don't expect those who choose to stay at home to foot the bill for those who can't, won't or need that extra trip to Florida in March or buy extra beer and pretzels.
At 10:51 AM,
Anonymous said…
For a reminder of just who's behind the CBC's "recycling" of the Child Care Advocacy Assn. of Canada please see today's entry on Small Dead Animals.
It all becomes every so clear that the Liberal spin-machine is working overtime at their CBC launching pad.
At 1:58 PM,
Anonymous said…
Fact: parents need out of home child care and the conservatives promised spaces and they are not realized. argue the truth all you want, but remember parents who work and need childcare are out of luck with this government. when parents realize they've been duped by a ridiculous $100 baby bonus they'll toss this government out on a rail.
why don't you and your lobby group choose to live in the real world, where most parents work and non-profit care is inadequate.
when you say give money to the kids, you're really saying give parents more money, without proper accountability and maybe we'll use it responsibility towards our kids, or maybe not. at least with non profit daycare the money creates spaces, which are necessary.
At 4:02 PM,
Anonymous said…
If non-profit daycares want to exist then to it on a user pay basis, NOT on the backs of those families who choose to have one parent at home.
When given money to make choices for their children the ONLY folks parents are accountable to is themselves and their child.
We trusted the Liberals for 13 years to do something on their much touted child care plan, yet it wasn't until the lipservice prior to the last few elections that promises were made and pretend money handed out.
Can we really trust the Liberals to ba accountable for our money after they stole it and gave it to their ad agency friends.
Get real.
At 5:19 PM,
Anonymous said…
IMO the big problem with subsidized daycare is lack of spaces. Forget for a minute whether it is the right thing for the goverment to provide daycare subsidy, which child care style the goverment wants to promote or whether the goverment (which is the taxpayer you and) can afford it.
Think of it as a lottery. If you want to compare it to an actual lottery, think about society's reaction would be if the taxpayers would need to bail out loto-quebec to pay out it's latest 6/49 winner (who payed 1$ for his ticket). So now you can understand why those who are looking for quality daycare are upset. they didn't win the lottery, are paying for those who did, and may not be fortunate enough to have a grandparent around, or may not be fortunate to have a spouse who earns enough for them to choose to go to work or not
Would the discourse be the same if it were lack of public school spaces? Those who are not lucky would have to pay for private school (whether they can or cannot afford it) or quit their jobs and home school (whether they would be competent or not). How about equal choice in education?
Would the discourse be the same if it were choice in child birth? Why should my taxes pay for your epidural? Give me the equivalent amount of money of the epidural to choose my own method of dealing with pain., Or better yet, stop subsidizing hospital birth and fund the mother-to-be to choose where she wishes to give birth and with who she wants assisting.
It is all the same argument.
The goverment has a right to establish a childcare policy that may not be monetarily equal to all children and it is right in doing so. Health care is not equal, the healthy paying for the less healthy. Taxation is not equal, the higher incomes paying more that the lower incomes, etc... So society (the goverment) can promote through tax policy, CTB, tax breaks for daycare , subsidies, etc... a model for society that it sees fit.
To answer Bev Smith's question about why the daycare advocates are not passionate about all kids:
As long as your movement unilaterly gives the moral high ground to the SAHM, and those who use daycare are irresponsible, couldn't care about their kids and simply greedy, your movement will not gain any support or respect from the day care advocates.
Claire
At 7:15 PM,
vicki said…
CPC promised spaces for 2007...so far they are a few days 'late'. Julie Van Duesen conveniently 'forgot' to mention that on the 'National'...or did she 'forget'.Looks like Lysack was waiting for the moment, with 'report'(tax funded) in hand, to show the CBC.
At 8:58 PM,
Nicole said…
Sara, you ok?
I am thinking about you lots!!
sending a big hug your way as well!!
I am sooooo sorry for you!!!
At 10:30 PM,
Sara said…
to the last anon,
did you really read what you said to me,, guess what I am the one living in the real world and giving the parents the funding makes more sense than Lysack, guess what she says "CCAC does not create any childcare spaces herself".... hmmm what a waste of millions wouldn't you say
At 8:22 AM,
Anonymous said…
Claire - It is NOT the same argument at all! Lack of daycare spaces is all relative to where in the country you are. For example, there is no lack of space in my region. As a matter of fact, we have the money for things like Best Start but guess what, the community isn't interested because the number of stay-at-home parents is huge compared to working parents.
You asked "would the discourse be the same if it were a lack of public school space?" That will never happen because enrolment due to low birth rates are down almost everywhere. Also the equal choice in education argument is backwards, because it's those parents who want an alternate education for their kids and have no government laws or tax credits to allow them the free choice to move their kids to one of the more than 300 alternative schools in Ontario.
What's the same about parental choice in education and choice in childcare is that those who want OUT OF THE STATE SYSTEM aren't recognized or supported by governments enough!!
At 8:33 AM,
Anonymous said…
Sara's right the CCAC is a tool. They're pissed because their cash cow(as explained on Small Dead Animals were nixed by the Conservative gov't).
If we another reminder of what just how your taxdollars were wasted: "In 2001 Status of Women Canada used your tax dollars this way: $9683 to the Group Raising Awareness of Lesbian Lives", $30,795 to the Victoria Women's Creative Network Society for a strategic initiative to develop an coordinated approach to research done by and about lesbians in British Columbia, $90,000 to the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour to undertake an initiative on balancing work and family leading to institutional and policy change, $6,000 to the Agriculture Farmers Union of Quebec to launch the program "Women farmers in power--a must!". The Liberals could have bought lots of daycare spaces over the years with that kind of cash. Thanks to www.morefreedom.org for the list. More from "Tales from the tax Trough IV"
At 10:24 AM,
Anonymous said…
To anon 8:22
I guess you understood my argument very well, because you use it yourself in the choice for education example, like my choice in childbirth example. Of course there would never be a lack of public school space, which is the very reason I used that example.
What the government is trying to achieve with subsidized daycare is similar to the public school system where it is universal and everyone who wants in can. But that’s simply not true. There may not be a need in your area, but there is a need in many areas. The 7000 lacking spaces in Ottawa is probably grossly exaggerated, but that’s probably because parents put their kids on lists at several daycares so one child may be counted several times. So we end up with a skewed unfair system, with 3 groups:
A. Some are lucky to have cheap subsidized daycare (that’s why I say they won the lottery).
B. Others aren’t and need to pay $1400 per month for 2 kids in daycare and have to wait a long time to get any tax break back (if any) or join group C although
not their 1st choice.
C. Those that have a stay-at-home parent (99% likely the father), I call fortunate because they are in a stable 2 parent family, where one parent earns a decent
income, but on the other end get little or no government support.
If the system cannot be truly universal then it must be prioritized. Who do you think is wise enough to put their kids on the waiting list of every CPE in town as soon as they find out they are pregnant? Most likely it is the high income earners who could afford non-subsidized daycare than the divorced mom or dual income family.
My solution in short is: get rid of the subsidized daycares of group A, offer tax-breaks to group B, based on income and in real time for the lower incomes. Give group C, a similar tax-break to group B so they are supported for their choice
I am one of those who won the lottery. Do I think it’s fair? NO
Do I think the system is efficient in spending our tax dollars in subsidized daycare? NO
Do I think group C end up short on tax day and in support in their child care choice? YES
Will Group C have my support if all they see when they look at a working woman is greed for beer, pretzels and vacations in Florida? NO
Claire
ps Sara, I hope you don’t mind my overly long posts
At 10:28 AM,
Sara said…
Go right ahead Claire, I don't mind. I can't really focus right now so I'll jump back into the comments next week...
At 2:59 PM,
Anonymous said…
Public education may be universal, but it's not equal to all. Not by a long shot. How one school board chooses to use their allocation is very different from how another chooses to use theirs. In most public systems parents aren't free to enrol their kids in any school within their board. Most have boundaries.
Just because the gov't runs it doesn't make the public education system or daycares, fair, or accountable.
I simply don't buy the hype of 7,000 without daycare. The numbers need to be questioned.
At 3:02 PM,
Anonymous said…
Claire - when you're comparing the school system to daycare you're comparing apples to oranges because most parents don't choose to send their kids to school. The law says they must, or pay themselves to send them elsewhere, AND pay taxes to a public system it they don't support. How fair's that?
Daycare is pure choice. It should be a user pay system based on educated choices made by parents. Can't afford to look after your kids. Don't have them.
J.
At 3:53 PM,
Anonymous said…
Dear anon J - correction - only in Ontario are parents denied choices in education. In all other provinces governments have recognized the right of parents to choose other than the public system and fund those choice in various ways and percentages.
Ontario seems behind.
At 5:00 PM,
Anonymous said…
whether public non-profit or private the right of choice should be respected. Stay-at-home parents have gone without that respect for a very, very long time.
Now we have a gov't that is confident that parents can and will make the best decisions for their own children, and we have a lobby like the one on CBC who wants the government to act as parent.
At 9:53 PM,
Anonymous said…
My comparison to the education system was obviously, poor, poorly understood or poorly explained...
Can you think of of any goverment program past or present that works on a first come first serve basis, with no other factor in the equation? Where waiting lists are treated the same was as Future Shop did for PS3s before Christmas?
Education is to health care what childcare choice is to childbirth choice. Or maybe I should just stay away from comparisions all together.
Claire
At 11:52 PM,
Anonymous said…
I'm with the strong conservative on this one... Why should any level of government, let alone the federal government, be involved in providing daycare?
Please think about this for a moment. If governments (regardless of level) weren't spending taxpayer dollars on non-essential programs like daycare, that would mean they wouldn't need to tax us as much as they do. Less taxes means more of the salary comes home on the paycheque to the household accounts.
More money in the household accounts means those who want daycare can better afford daycare. Those who don't choose daycare get to use the money as they choose. (beer and popcorn anyone?)
Why aren't there more licenced daycares? Simply put, providing the facilities for a licenced daycare is expensive, not to mention insurance costs, upkeep, staff costs, you name it. Most people aren't willing to pay enough to make such a venture a "break-even" prospect, let alone profitable. Yes, there's that dirty word, hated by all socialists... profitable...
People believe it is necessary to have both parents working to support our modern lifestyle choices. Nonsense!! If the government wasn't taking over half of our salary dollars in taxes of one form or another, more families could afford the choice to have one parent stay at home.
I wish that had been an option for my wife and I but we've been living in one of Canada's most expensive areas since the kids were born. We hired a nanny until the children were old enough for pre-school. A nanny was less expensive than daycare for two.
Before Trudeau managed to deceive Canadians into walking along the golden path to socialism, Canadians were better able to care for themselves. Trudeau's legacy of useless but expensive programs haunts us to this day.
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