Leave national child care agreements alone - CUPE to Harper
Canada News-Wire
06 Feb 2006

OTTAWA, Feb. 6 /CNW Telbec/ - Building a universal child care program that offers real choice for families begins with upholding the signed provincial agreements, says the president of Canada's largest union.

"Mr. Harper must respect the signed child care agreements," said Paul Moist, national president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. "Cancelling these agreements will destroy the hopes for a universal child care program that families and child care workers have been fighting for over the last 30 years."

Study after study proves that a universal child care program offers the best results for children in terms of education, social behaviour and future productivity.

With all the provinces and opposition parties supporting the agreements, a national child care program is long overdue. Yet, the Conservatives have indicated they are willing to cancel the agreements.

"At a minimum, Mr. Harper needs to consult Parliament to change or cancel the provincial agreements," Moist said. "A deal's a deal and breaking these agreements will only increase federal-provincial tensions with children on the losing end."

Without a universal program, families will continue their struggle to find adequate care and child care workers will remain underpaid despite the important education and nurturing work they do.

"As the Conservatives begin their minority government I strongly urge Mr. Harper to consider the bigger picture and the long-term harm of ending the agreements," Moist said. "Keep them intact and keep moving child care forward."

CUPE is Canada's largest union, with 540,000 members providing public services in communities across the country, including health care, child care, municipal services and more.