Freedom Flyer 21

the official newsletter of the
Freedom Party of Ontario

July 1992

Childcare deformed...

Fp DEFENDS PROFIT PRINCIPLE IN DAYCARE

'SETTING THE STAGE' FOR CHILD CARE MONOPOLY

LONDON (April 3, 1992) - In an address to the Ministry of Community and Social Services on the issue of child care reform, Freedom Party leader Robert Metz accused the NDP's planned child care strategy of being both greedy and fraudulent - and a complete disservice to the people it is purportedly intended to help.

Among its objectives in its public consultation paper entitled Setting the Stage, the Ministry outlined the following:

the introduction of universality as the overriding premise of government-funded daycare,
the expansion of a government monopoly and/or regulation over daycare;
the amalgamation of daycare with public education;
the elimination of, or handicapping of, private competition in daycare;
forced uniformity on the whole daycare industry;
the establishment and expansion of a government daycare bureaucracy with "supervisors/administrators such as specialized training in management and administration" (sic);
the introduction of employment equity as a "...qualification" of caregivers;
the regulation and licensing of home-based child care;
the establishment of non-profit and the elimination of market forces as "principles" behind a government-monopolized daycare system, and of course
more taxes to pay for this socialist scheme.

FOUR PRINCIPLES?

Ironically, the government's consultation paper dares to suggest that the "four guiding principles" of its daycare strategy are quality, affordability, accessibility, and sound management.

"To suggest that government can possibly operate on any of these principles is nothing short of absurd," charged Metz in his opening comments to the Ministry. "If there were four good reasons to keep government away from the provision of daycare, the four principles purportedly guiding this consultation paper are among the best."

In his oral presentation to the ministry's panel which included Minister of Community and Social Services Marion Boyd and London South MPP David Winniger, Metz focussed his criticisms on the Ministry's irrational adherence to the principles of universality and non-profit.

"If you've been watching the trend, you should know that the current public pressure is for more market forces to come into play, including choice, competition, and accountability to consumers themselves - not to governments or to the public," argued Metz. "You should also know that universality and the non-profit approach are failing and constantly need to be propped up by continued tax increases, deficits, and service cutbacks."

THE ROAD TO BANKRUPTCY: UNIVERSALITY

Given that he was addressing a socialist panel, Metz made it clear that he more than aware that any suggestion to abandon universality would fall on deaf ears: "It seems that the only time politicians consider abandoning universality is when their universal giveaway schemes invariably run their due course to bankruptcy."

Metz repeated his message about the tragedy of universality and of its clear and visible effects on Canada's health, welfare, and education systems.

"It's regrettable but true. Under universality, the needy get pushed out by the greedy, who unfortunately include politicians of all parties who use universality arguments to buy votes."

'NON-PROFIT' AS A FRAUD

"As a consumer, I would much rather pay $400 a month to a private daycare making 20% profit than pay $500 or more a month through hidden taxes to a government-monopolized daycare system that is operating on a 'non-profit' system," said Metz. "Indeed, the term 'non-profit' is most misleading as a political appeal, and I might even venture to suggest that it is fraudulent when used in conjunction with saving costs."

Metz spent a large portion of his submission to the ministry contrasting the private concepts of "profits/losses" with the government concepts of "surpluses/deficits."

"As a 'motive,' non-profit is simplistically political, possibly among the most greedy of all," emphasized Metz.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

In his conclusions to the Ministry, Metz offered the following recommendations:

Abandon universality. It will only guarantee bankruptcy and poor service.
Encourage diversity through competition in a free market - not through regulation and monopoly.
Direct government assistance only to those who need it.

GET THE DETAILS! Transcripts of Metz's address to the Ministry are now available to Fp members and supporters on request.

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Page last updated on April 28, 2002