Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

Via email: It was all coming together: a long-awaited national child care program, the first new social program since medicare. Less than six months ago, federal and provincial governments had signed historic agreements that signaled the beginning of a program aimed at meeting the needs of Canadian children and families.

Now, the new Conservative government has cancelled these agreements, cutting $4 billion in federal funds for child care. Without federal funding, many provincial plans to improve and expand child care will barely, if ever, get off the ground.

The dream of a community-based early learning and care program for all children, regardless of whether their parents are at home or in the workforce, has been 30 years in the making. Now, it could all evaporate.

Canadians are in desperate need of quality child care programs. The Conservative promise of a $1,200 a year family allowance is not enough.

Families need income support, and they need quality early learning and child care services too. The Government of Canada can and should do both. As a society, we cannot afford not to.

Please add your name to the long list of Canadians who support public investment in child care by signing the open letter on child care at www.buildchildcare.ca . Do it today, for the future that Canadian families deserve.

Hayley Wickenheiser, a gold medal mom (and hockey player) who led Canadian women to victory at the Olympic Games has signed the CODE BLUE open letter on child care along with the more than 22,000 Canadians who have signed the letter since February 24.

City councils, school boards, regional health boards, and a Toronto community housing organization are some of the concerned bodies that have passed resolutions urging the federal Conservatives to honour the child care agreements signed last year. At a symposium in Toronto on March 13, the YWCA Canada released a report that shows Canadians strongly believe in the value of early childhood services and programs.