FREDERICTON – Conservative leader Stephen Harper responded to Paul Martin’s plan to extend a one-size-fits-all daycare bureaucracy with the following remarks from Petty Harbour, Newfoundland, this morning.
“I would like to respond to three things Paul Martin said yesterday about our choice in child care announcement.
“First, Mr. Martin said that transferring money to provinces for institutional child care is supported by, and I quote, ‘the vast majority of those who are knowledgeable.’ I don’t know about the Liberals, but when it comes to choices in childcare, I can’t think of anyone more knowledgeable than parents. Mr. Martin may not support giving child care support directly to parents, but I do. Mr. Martin may prefer a child care plan that transfers money from one set of politicians to another, but I prefer a child care plan that transfers money directly to parents.
“Second, Mr. Martin said that our plan won’t create child care spaces. I would encourage Mr. Martin to read our plan. Our plan will directly create 125,000 daycare spaces over the next five years through our annual $250 million Community Childcare Investment Program.
“The Liberals like to talk about new child care spaces, but parents tell me they haven’t seen any of them.
“Finally, Mr. Martin said Canada faces a clear choice and he’s right. We will clean up government; he hasn’t. We will cut the GST; he didn’t. We will crack down on crime; he won’t. And yes, we will provide choice in child care, and Mr. Martin never will.
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