Protest bridges child-care gap

An expectant mother stood shoulder-to-shoulder yesterday with more than 100 parents, child-care providers and others who were "bridging the gap" between Ontario's child-care system and Quebec's universal system by demonstrating along the Portage Bridge.

Quebec parents pay $7 a day for child care, while Ontario parents have to shell out roughly $55, noted Morna Ballantyne, co-ordinator of Code Blue for Child Care.

"The main difference is that on that side of the river, they have a provincial government that recognizes the importance of building an accessible, affordable child care system," said Ballantyne.

The protest was also meant to draw attention to a $1-billion cut to early learning and child care by the federal Conservative government, which is instead providing $250 million to create care spaces.

A new study by the Toronto-based Council for Early Child Development ranks Canada last in funding among developed countries. Canada spends 0.25% of its GDP on early childhood programs; others spend up to 2%.

LINK: Ottawa Sun