$15.00 per day daycare?

[cfred]

First, I think it's a really ridiculous idea. We all know our country can't afford it, but hey...what's a few billion more out of taxpayer's pockets, right?

That aside, he's only promising 1000 000 spaces, CANADA WIDE. We have more than 350,000 children in care (regulated and Independent) in Ontario alone. 1000,000 isn't going to cut it.

Next, as we've seen from the dismal reports coming out of the Quebec system, we know it's not going to work. We KNOW this! Their model is touted as being some sort of childcare utopia by both Quebec and the Canadian Childcare Federation (which is another government funded organization btw...in case you weren't aware ). But it is widely known that it isn't economically feasible even with the other provinces funneling money into it. In addition to being a financial train wreck, they've had 2 ECE walk outs due to poor working conditions and pay. I spoke to one Quebec provider who said they are so poorly treated and living under the thumb of the government and agencies that many are actually afraid to speak out for fear of being black listed in the profession. When did childcare become the mafia??? AND, on top of all that, research shows that they children in the system are actually behind in almost every area of learning.

But, having been involved in the Ontario political issues for the past 18 months, I can say that regardless of what a fiasco UCC will bring upon the country, the government in their all knowing wisdom will probably bring it in. If NDP gets in (or Liberal) then so does UCC. I believe there will still be a place for us, but not as big of one. I believe we will become childcare to the more 'elite' sector, which is exactly what market I'll be targeting. We'll get those people who hate the idea of sending their child to institutional care in a class of dangerous ratio proportions or to the underfunded agency providers. Providers who wish to stay in the game will have to up the ante substantially and really target specific clientele in their area. We're already seeing this with the government funded free daycare (ehem...sorry...FDK) . Montessori schools (in my city anyway) are seeing exponential growth in enrollment since FDK rolled out. I don't believe daycare will be any different.