For the children of Canada, a D should represent delight, not destitute or despair.

Dear friends.

The latest bi-annual report by the Childcare Resource and Research Unit highlighted how Canada literally cannot work without child care. More mothers are working while the growth of childcare spaces is slowing. These trends are bad for children, bad for families, and bad for the economy.

Click here for the report highlights, and here for the full report.

If the status quo continues, the outlook for children, families and the economy is grim. That is why we are continuing our push for my Private Members Bill to create a national high-quality, affordable, accessible and non-profit child care program.

Read my press release on the report by the Childcare Resource and Research Unit.

It also may come as no surprise to many of you that Canada’s record on child poverty is one of the worst of all developed countries. A recent article from the Conference Board of Canada highlights how government inaction is hurting children. Read the full article for more.

The recent news prompted our party to again question the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, Diane Finley to explain the horrible state of Canada’s childcare and child poverty rates. The exchange on Thursday September 17 in the House of Commons is below.

Mr. Tony Martin (Sault Ste. Marie, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the government has been given a D for the level of poverty in the country by the Conference Board of Canada, not exactly a left-wing socialist organization.

Imagine Canada, with all its wealth, being 15th out of 17 developed countries for poor working age adults and children and we are slipping further behind. The D is for denial and do nothing. We are not living up to our reputation or our potential.

There have been three years of inaction. What is the government going to do now to improve Canada’s record on poverty?

Hon. Diane Finley (Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, for once, I actually do agree with the NDP member, that the performance reported by the Conference Board is abysmal. That is because it happened up until 2005, if we check the data, under the Liberals. It was under their watch that this report was measured.

I would point out that in 2007, after our first year of government, 400,000 fewer Canadians lived in a low income situation than in 2006. That was the lowest level since 1976.

Ms. Olivia Chow (Trinity—Spadina, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the report focuses on how poorly the children are doing in Canada. Too many of them go to bed hungry and have no access to child care.

Provinces want to end child poverty but they do not have the money.

Here is where the money can come from: the billions spent by the Conservatives, supported by the Liberals, in promoting the HST tax grab.

Instead of blowing $6 billion on the HST, will the minister invest in the children of Canada and provide them with hope, prosperity and child care?

Hon. Diane Finley (Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the member is citing from the same report that ended in 2005 while there was the NDP coalition with the Liberals.

Let us take at look at 2007. During the first year of this Conservative government, 100,000 fewer children lived in low income families than the previous year. Why? It is because we enhanced the national child tax benefit for low income families. We introduced the universal child care benefit…

As we approach the 20th anniversary of the House of Commons’ pledge to end child poverty, as proposed by former leader of the New Democrats Ed Broadbent, let us recommit ourselves to create an economic recovery where no one is left behind. For the children of Canada, a D should represent delight, not destitute or despair.

The time to act is now. Please download our petition to support Early Learning and Childcare here.  As well please download and distribute our “Canada can’t work without childcare” mail back cards: English – French.

All the best,

-Olivia

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