Statement made on 14 May 2008 by Senator Jane Cordy
Hon. Jane Cordy:
Honourable senators, my question is directed to the Leader of the Government in the Senate. According to the report of the Child Care Resource and Research Unit released on April 10, 2008, the state of early education and child care in Canada has deteriorated considerably since Mr. Harper became Prime Minister. Between 2001 and 2004, new child care spaces created totalled over 152,493 — an average of over 50,000 new child care spaces per year. This government took over and promptly cancelled the Liberal's national child care plan and replaced it with their corporate tax incentive plan — which the government, I understand, has since admitted was a failure and cancelled — and the $100-per-month-before-tax family baby bonus. The growth of new child care spaces in Canada has dropped to just over 26,000 new spaces last year.
When will this government stop ignoring the concerns of Canadian families and make a serious effort to support these families with their early education and child care needs?
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