Media Release for September 20

McSheffrey says NDP childcare plan is good for families

“As your MP, I’ll deliver for you and your kids”

ARNPRIOR, Sept. 20: The New Democrats’ candidate in Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, Sue McSheffrey said that Jack Layton’s comprehensive national childcare plan announced today will provide good quality, affordable child care spaces across the country. “As part of Jack Layton’s team in Ottawa, I will fight to make sure all families have a childcare plan that works for them” said McSheffrey.

“I believe that high quality public child care will be as important to building Canada in the 21st century, as Medicare was in the last century,” said McSheffrey.

The New Democrat candidate blasted Prime Minister Harper, pointing out that “not a single child care space has been created by the Harper Conservatives.” She said problems are particularly acute in rural areas like Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke.

“In addition to the lack of availability of quality day care, working families here do an enormous amount of driving, and most earn much less than their counterparts in the city,”said McSheffrey.

“Everyday, families across our country struggle to find good quality child care they can afford; they should not have to worry whether they can pay the bill at the end of the month,” she said. "The Conservatives' answer to the child care doesn't even come close to the cost of leaving your children with some babysitter who may have a dozen other kids to look after. That’s the reality many families face now, thanks the the Conservative approach.”

She said the NDP will work with the provinces “in a careful, step-by-step fashion to build the affordable spaces your families need.” This week Jack Layton committed to investing $1.45 billion dollars in the first year of the NDP's program. “And as finances permit, we’ll steadily build on that funding until the program is fully phased in,” said McSheffrey.

The plan calls for an initial 150,000 spaces, with the longer term goal of a space for every child needing one.

“Canadian families deserve Members of Parliament who will stand up for you and your children, not for giving away billions of dollars in corporate tax cuts,” said McSheffrey. She said Stephen Harper cannot be trusted on child care.

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