Zandee and the Conservatives don't understand childcare
Nelson Daily News
17 Oct 2006
Editorial -- By: Toni Hoyland, South Slocan

To the Editor:

I read your letter from Robert Zandee ("NDP urban agenda shines through" NDN Wednesday, October 4, 2006), a Conservative Party candidate hopeful from Oliver and I feel compelled to respond. Zandee tried to clear up the "misleading" comments from a previous letter about childcare issues written by Alex Atamanenko. I am very distressed by Zandee's comments and lack of understanding of the real issues for families in 2006.

He's right, childcare challenges have existed a long time, but the last Liberal government made a huge first step in responding by providing a boost in funding and a vision that every province in Canada would begin steps to build a childcare system that would meet the needs of families.

The Conservative government's plan to stimulate new spaces by giving tax benefits to businesses willing to create spaces is laughable. Without support for ongoing operating costs, businesses would be crazy to take the government up on their offer. The non-profit organizations that have a commitment to creating supportive social programs of course are not eligible.

Zandee is right that government must meet the real needs and complex realities of Canadian families and yet he seems to think quality childcare is in competition with families for raising children. Quality children's programs are not "institutions" as Zandee defines them (comparing them to prisons), but communities of children and supportive adults, designed to provide the warm, safe, nurturing and educational environments that parents rely on when they cannot be home. Quality childcare programs work in collaboration with families.

In this complex modern world that Zandee refers to, parents are balancing many issues that require them to work, access training/education, build careers and support their families. Some parents make the choice to have one parent at home and I believe this choice should also be appreciated and supported... but not at the expense of childcare programs available to everyone.

Stay at home parents also access many resources within a quality childcare program, including prenatal classes, life after birth, young parents and parenting classes, parent and tot programs, recreational programs, family literacy programs, family childcare, preschools, and group childcare programs.

An educated government will recognize the realities of modern life and provide the supports and programs necessary to create a network of choices that are truly universal for all families.