MPP Armstrong calls for increased support for child care amid concerns of further Conservative cuts

LONDON – NDP MPP Teresa Armstrong (London Fanshawe), Official Opposition critic for Child Care released the following statement in response to reports that raise concerns about Conservative privatization in the child care sector:

“Many families are already having to drain their bank accounts to pay for child care, and providers such as the YMCA are warning of imminent closures if crisis funding isn’t received. These Conservative cuts will only make life even more unaffordable. Child care operators have been ringing alarm bells for years – including at recent pre-budget consultations - requesting urgent investment just to stabilize their services. Is this government completely blind to a crisis of their own making?”

Background

• Ford has reportedly ordered municipalities who operate child care centres to conduct ‘value-for-money audits’ to determine if they could be operated by a third party
• This move raises concerns that Ford is looking to make further cuts to provincial child care funding, at a time when operators are already warning of an imminent crisis