Rona Ambrose

[Child Care, June 7th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, each and every parent should be able to afford the choice to care for their children as they see fit. A one size fits all day care plan does not provide choice and discriminates against some parents.

When will the minister acknowledge that all parents deserve choices and financially empower all families equally?

[Child Care, June 7th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government is creating a two tier child care system, one tier for those who can find a space in a government run, nine to five day care centre, and another tier for those who are forced to fend for themselves, especially parents who work shifts. This two tier child care system does not create choice or opportunities for the majority of Canadians.

What is a single parent on a low income who works late night shift work supposed to do for child care under this Liberal plan?

[Child Care, June 6th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Social Development has embarked upon a path contrary to the request from the provinces, contrary to the desire of parents, and contrary to the established governing procedure. In fact, this past weekend the minister went so far as to say that institutionalized day care “is the way in which our kids live”.

I would urge the minister to expand this narrow vision and realize that not one of our nation's children should be left behind. Will the minister finally stand and admit that parents want choice in child care, and convert this two tier program into a universal program for every family, every parent and every child?

[Child Care, June 6th, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister and his friends have developed the annoying habit of meddling to the tune of billions of dollars in areas under provincial jurisdiction.

Now that the Prime Minister has taken over child care in Canada, could he tell us what he intends to do to resolve the labour disputes Quebec families are facing?

[Social Development, June 3rd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the government has invested billions of dollars in a child care program. This program encroaches on provincial jurisdictions. Yet the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs remains silent on this issue. The provinces have spoken: they want to have a choice. However, the Minister of Social Development refuses to acknowledge that demand.

When will the minister finally listen, and respect the rights of the provinces?

[Federal-Provincial Relations, June 3rd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, in the 1996 Speech from the Throne, in response to the Quebec referendum, the Liberal government made the following commitment:

The Government will not use its spending power to create new shared-cost programs in areas of exclusive provincial jurisdiction without the consent of a majority of the provinces. Any new program will be designed so that non-participating provinces will be compensated, provided they establish equivalent or comparable initiatives.

Does the government continue to stand by its 1996 throne speech commitment on the right to opt out with full compensation?

[Child Care, June 2nd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, let us hope the agreement involves choice.

The Moncton Times and Transcript said in its editorial today, “It is inane and short-sighted of the federal government to impose a one-size-fits-all solution on New Brunswick”, and we could not agree more.

A gender based analysis of the Liberal child care plan shows that it discriminates against women who work shift work. It discriminates against women who live or work outside of urban centres and women who choose to work part time or full time in the home.

Can the minister please explain why the Liberal child care plan does not support the choices of all women?

[Child Care, June 2nd, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, we learned this morning that the Minister of Social Development is negotiating with the opposition Liberal leader of New Brunswick. The families of New Brunswick and the Premier of New Brunswick have spoken loud and clear. They want choice in child care. The minister should be listening to the families of New Brunswick instead of giving political direction to his provincial Liberal counterpart.

When will the minister admit that no political rhetoric will change the reality that families do not want a two tier child care system and instead want choice in child care?

[Child Care, June 1st, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, it is clear that the Liberal day care plan is a two tier program, money for a few and none for most. I do not know how the minister can justify giving money to some parents and none to others.

Why are the Liberals continuing to support a two tier day care program?

[Child Care, June 1st, 2005]

Mr. Speaker, the premier of New Brunswick is clearly listening to parents. He has said that he will not sign any day care deal with the Prime Minister unless it supports all choices for parents. However, today we have learned again that the Liberals will not support choice in child care.

The Minister of Social Development has said that New Brunswick will get no day care money unless it only supports the Liberal plan. Why will the minister not listen to the parents in New Brunswick who are asking for choice in child care?