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Stephen Harper pitches Copper House, a facility for Husky Injection Molding System Ltd. workers' children in Ontario, as "modern" child care. This for-profit, 150-space facility is owned and operated by the company.
Harper hopes his plan will encourage other companies and community organizations to own and operate similar facilities. To entice creation of such facilities, he announced that a Conservative government would provide a $10,000 tax credit for each space created.
At a monthly fee of $1,200 for an infant and $400 for after school drop-ins, such centres are out of reach for many parents.
Harper threatens to cancel existing federal initiatives or agreements with the provinces that he fears might lead to a child- care program. In doing so he illustrates his opposition to a professionally planned child-care program that is regulated, affordable and provides access to child-care spaces.
We are aware of Harper's willingness to accept the privatization of medicare and other social programs. He does not support publicly funded child-care programs within our school systems that would have an educational component and trained people to provide it.
Our young children are a most precious resource. They deserve a universal, accessible child-care program for all children.
- reprinted from Saskatoon Star-Phoenix