Dear Premier Campbell,

I am writing to express my concern about your offices present apparent lack of awareness towards the December 2008 UNICEF report which was mailed to you on December 10th, 2008 from Toronto.

I phoned your office seeking your response to this Innocente Report Card which is designed to monitor and compare the performance of the O.E.C.D. countries in securing the rights of their children.

It states that today’s rising generation is the first in which a majority are spending a large part of early childhood in some form of out of home care. It states the latest in neuroscientific research which demonstrates that loving, stable, secure and stimulating relationships during the early years are critical to all aspects of child development. It states that a countries response to this transition will represent an advance or a set back for today’s children and tomorrows world.

I have spoken with the Vancouver and Toronto UNICEF offices. I have been assured that without a doubt you along with 640 other leaders across the country received the shocking report.

A cover letter was attached from Nigel Fisher, the President and C.E.O. of UNICEF Canada. I have called the Toronto office again and I have been assured by Saadya Hadani that another copy of the report, has been sent to you on February 11th, 2009.

You shall agree that this matter needs attention. I shall also be writing to be Federal Government on the matter. Never the less we at the community level cannot wait on Ottawa; action is needed now to put in place a Province wide child care system which will reach the Benchmarks which we presently fail so miserably in, and which will secure quality care and education which is the entitlement of all young children re: the Rights of the Child.

I look forward to your response at your earliest convenience.

Yours truly,
Mary Dolan

cc: Minister of State for Child Care, Linda Reid; UNICEF Office Toronto, Saadya Hamdani;
Minister of Child and Family Development, Tom Christensen; B.C. Rep for Children and Youth, Mary Ellen Turpell Lafond ; Leader of the Opposition, Carole James, N.D.P; Child Care Critic for the Opposition, Claire Trevena, M.L.A;  [and several others]