Freedom Flyer December 1991 Cover

Freedom Flyer 19

the official newsletter of the
Freedom Party of Ontario

December 1991




METZ WARNS DAYCARE OPERATORS OF NDP AGENDA

GOVERNMENT PULLS PLUG ON PRIVATE DAYCARE

LONDON (May 1, 1991) - In a presentation to private daycare forum sponsored by United Voice for Fair Treatment in Child Care, Fp leader Robert Metz warned that when the NDP speaks of "'expanding child-care spaces,' it will not only be at the expense of taxpayers, but at the expense of private daycare operators as well. "Judging by the opinion polls," reflected Metz, "it is clear that most Ontarians cannot bring themselves to believe that the government they just recently elected is committed to the gradual elimination of ALL private options and market responses to need, particularly if the service in question can be considered 'essential.' The NDP is committed to making things tough for private foodbanks, private accommodation, private education, private healthcare, and now, private daycare. God help us when they completely take over the food industry," Metz continued, "because on that day we will know hunger."

Metz was invited to appear on the forum's panel along with Judy Preston, president of the Association for Private Daycare Operators (Ont), Bob Lauder of the Reform Party, and Ian Gibb, member of the Child Care Council and owner of six private daycares.

IS THIS THE END?

Arlene Forster, a private daycare operator involved with organizing the forum, summed up the mood of private daycare operators with the question: "Is this the end of commercial daycare in Ontario?"

It was clear by attendance at the event that private daycare operators had the support of parents. One parent who spoke at the forum conveyed the sense of betrayal left by NDP promises: "I voted for the NDP thinking it was a vote for the support of daycare," only to discover that what the NDP really supports is an unresponsive government monopoly on the provision of daycare.

Metz reminded attendees that the NDP's actions were perfectly predictable: "New Democrats are socialists and socialism means government ownership and control. Your dilemma as private daycare operators and customers is part of a much larger picture in Ontario, a picture that offers fewer and fewer economic options for Ontarians everywhere."

WHAT TO DO

As a long-term solution to the daycare dilemma, Metz offered a formula that in every respect is the opposite of the NDP plan on daycare:

TOO LATE FOR MOST

TORONTO (December/91) - Unfortunately, long-term solutions to the industry's woes may never benefit current daycare operators. Already, the government has revealed a $75 million NDP plan to "convert" half of Ontario's private daycare centres into high-cost "non-profit" centres as its first step towards universal daycare, a move that will drive many daycare operators out of business and absorb many others into the state-financed system.

Ironically, a poor Ontario economy already ravaged with high taxes and unemployment may be the NDP's biggest obstacle to implementing its plans. At a time when so many inefficient state-monopolized services are draining the vitality of this province, it would be irresponsible and ill-considered to create yet another tax burden - simply to replace a private functioning daycare system with a state-run system. However, a party committed to a socialist agenda is trying to do just that.




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