That is why I continue that tradition.
I have some letters here. One is from British Columbia, and there is a huge number of letters, over 200, but I thought I would pick one or two because they go into this whole argument about parents, stay-at-home moms and all that. Just give me a minute. I thought I'd read it. And of course they are writing that this legislation is good for children, families, our communities, and our economy.
One reads like this:
Currently fewer than 20% of families in BC have access to quality, regulated child care, yet our finance minister is proudly stating that “jobs are looking for people” in our province. Without a way to insure child care for parents, these jobs will continue to “look for people”. How long will it be before employers leave the province if they can not find employees? Already 44% of BC employers are reporting labour shortages. Child care is everyone's business! It affects multiple areas of our society--parents, children, employers, business owners, co-workers, and grandparents, to name a few. We need to get past the argument “Should a parent (mother) stay at home to raise children rather than work?” The fact is “Parents (including mothers) work.” The argument is a smoke screen that deflects the issue. The fact is some parents have to work--they have no choice. Parents who work need reliable, affordable, quality child care. Provincial governments need to be accountable for the child care dollars they receive from the federal government. Bill C-303 will make provincial governments accountable for spending any money received for child care on child care”.
And that's from Cathy Cross, Port Alberni, B.C.
I guess, Helen, you are from B.C. and others here are parents and mothers who are saying they have to work, maybe because the income level is not high, or the dad's income level is just not high enough, and this mom has to work. In that case, what do you do? You need to have child care--and quality child care.
There was discussion about training. If we have to have child care, then surely we need to have decent quality and training. If that is the case, then I know early childhood educators take two or three years of education in college, so they are very well trained. We want trained child care workers who get adequate pay so they can make a living, so they can take care of the kids of parents who work.
I see complete logic in all these letters. What would you say to a parent like Cathy Cross? What would she do to her parents?