NEWS RELEASE

June 18, 1996                                                                                                               For Immediate Release

BREITKREUZ INTRODUCES MOTION TO FORCE DEBATE ON NATIONAL CHILD CARE PROGRAM

"Child care funding should subsidize children and parents, not institutions and bureaucrats."

Ottawa - Garry Breitkreuz, MP for Yorkton-Melville has the luck of the draw -- the Private Members Business Draw that is. Breitkreuz' name was drawn from among all the MPs who had submitted a Motion for debate in the House of Commons. Following the draw Breitkreuz selected Motion M-101 for debate. Motion M-101 states: "That, in the opinion of this House, the government should not spend any more public money on non-parental day care initiatives at this time, and any existing expenditures for child care should subsidize financial need, not the method of child care chosen, and further that the program subsidize children and parents, not institutions and professionals."

The Liberal Red Book promised a national child care program. On January 24, 1994, Deputy Prime Minister Sheila Copps repeated the promise in the House of Commons: "As soon as the economy has grown by 3 per cent, we plan to open 150,000 new day care spaces within three years. That was clearly indicated in our Red Book, and there is no doubt that the Prime Minister will fulfil the promises made in that book." "Well the economy has grown more than 3 per cent and in October the three years will be up -- what is Sheila going to do -- resign again, or is it now the Prime Minister's turn?" asked Breitkreuz.

Last December, Lloyd Axworthy promised $630 million to expand and improve day care spaces, but the offer was conditional on the financial participation of the provinces. Now, Human Resources Development Minister Doug Young is offering the provinces $250 million over three years. Apparently, the commitment to create 150,000 spaces is no longer the objective. The National Action Committee on the Status of Women (NAC) continued to nag the government yesterday to keep their child care promise. "This is a huge expenditure of public dollars which requires a full and open public debate. The wishes of our constituents can only be effectively represented if there is a debate in the House of Commons," said Breitkreuz. "Child care has never been debated in the House, and it is for this reason I will attempt to convince a House of Commons Sub-Committee to make this Motion a 'votable item'."

Studies by Dr. Mark Genuis, Executive Director of the National Foundation for Family Research and Education in Calgary, show that non-parental care of more than twenty hours a week has "an unmistakably negative effect" on the development of children. "Advocating government subsidized, institutionalized day care which would encourage even more separation between children and parents is a recipe for disaster. These studies show that non-parental child care will have a direct effect on increasing emotional and behavioural problems, learning difficulties, increased depression, increased crime (particularly youth crime), and more personal stress leaves from work, all of which will require more government spending and higher taxes in the years ahead," reported Breitkreuz. "The government has made a promise to implement a national child-care program but has not provided a clear indication of the principles regarding how these funds will be spent and the priorities regarding where the funds will be directed. Hopefully, debate of Motion M-101 will correct this oversight by the Liberal government."

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For more information please call:

The Office of Garry Breitkreuz, M.P.

Yorkton: (306) 782-3309

Ottawa: (613) 992-4394