Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his new Conservative government are out to dismantle the beginnings of an early learning and child care program—our first new social program since Medicare. We cannot let this happen!

Here’s what’s at stake

The Prime Minister has cancelled the 10 child care agreements that the provinces negotiated with the federal government last year. He has cut $3 billion in federal funding for child care. He is trying to destroy our dream for a community-based child care program that could offer support to all children, regardless of whether their parents are at home or in the workforce.

If Harper succeeds, many provinces will not proceed with plans to improve and expand child care. In Quebec with $7 per day child care, Harper is refusing to honour the agreement.

Instead of building a child care program that gives all young children a safe place to go, the Conservatives want to give parents a $1,200 a year family allowance. But income support to parents is not child care. Through our experience with the CUPW Child Care Fund, we’re well aware of the costs and planning involved in getting quality child care services up and running. The promise of $1,200 a year is not nearly enough. Families need child care services too, and the Government of Canada can afford to do both.

Act now!

Please tell Prime Minister Harper and the provincial politicians that they must act now to save child care. Visit www.buildchildcare.ca today and sign the Code Blue for Child Care letter to the politicians. What is Code Blue? It’s a medical term for “emergency” and the slogan for a coalition campaign in favour of quality child care for all children. Join the campaign by adding your name to the growing number of people who support public investment in child care. Urge your family, friends and neighbours to join too. (You can also access the web site by going through the Campaigns and Activities section on the home page of www.cupw-sttp.org.)