When given the chance, Minister provided no clarity for daycare owners

HALIFAX, NS – The NDP’s flip-flopping on daycare is causing uncertainty and Progressive Conservative leader Jamie Baillie says Premier Darrell Dexter should put an end to his Community Services Minister’s confusing plans.

“Our daycare operators are focused on providing care to Nova Scotia children and should not have to worry about NDP threats to choke off their funding,” said Baillie.

On Wednesday, the Minister of Community Services confirmed that the department is in the process of an early childcare review that includes how public money is spent. The Minister has indicated that ending funding to privately-owned daycares is on the table.

This differs from a letter sent to daycare owners from the Department of Community Services saying “despite what you may have heard, the province has no intention of changing how it funds day cares.”

Baillie says he expects the planned review is nothing but a sham to push forward the agenda of the NDP’s friends at CUPE.

Today, the PC leader called on the Premier to reaffirm support for working parents by confirming that his government will continue the full portability of subsidized childcare spaces for any licensed daycare that parents choose and allow small business owners to compete in the daycare market.

There are over 8,500 childcare spaces in privately owned daycares in Nova Scotia and most are small businesses run by women. Both privately owned and non-profit daycare centres are licensed by the province to ensure high standards.

“Working parents deserve the freedom to choose the daycare that best suits the needs of their family,” said Baillie.

The PC Party supports the full portability of childcare subsidies so parents can choose the best care for their children.

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