HALIFAX, NS – Progressive Conservative Community Services critic Keith Bain says he’s concerned that the NDP are going to use the discussion paper on early years programs and services to move forward with their plan to eliminate funding for private daycares.   
 
The PC Caucus has been raising concerns about the NDP Community Services Minister’s stated plan to stop funding to Nova Scotia’s 228 private daycares. To date, the Minister of Community Services hasn’t provided an adequate answer to calm the fears of many daycare owners and parents.  
 
“I’m concerned that this so-called consultation, like others the NDP have conducted, will be used to cover an attempt by the NDP to make sweeping changes that fit their narrow ideology,” said Bain, referring to the NDP’s ‘sham’ consultations on First Contract Arbitration and which led to the HST hike.
 
“The fact that the consultation period is over in less than a month is also of concern. The busy people who run daycares are already struggling with pressures, now they have to find time to complete a survey in an extremely short timeframe,” added Bain.
 
Bain says he hopes the nine qualified members of the advisory council Premier Dexter appointed are free to take their work in the direction they see fit.  
 
“These nine individuals have the experience needed to come forward with a thoughtful strategy that puts kids first,” said Bain. “I hope that the NDP will recognize that and put kids and their families first too.”
 
More than half of the children in daycares in Nova Scotia attend privately operated facilities. In several communities, they are the only choice. The government currently provides funding to daycares based on the number of children who attend, but the NDP and their ally CUPE have frightened parents and operators with contradictory statements indicating they are contemplating a major change.
 
Bain questioned the Minister of Community Services in the Legislature about her constant flip-flops on the subject, click here to access the Hansard transcript.
 
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