MPP for Bay of Quinte riding and Cabinet Minister Todd Smith says his government would be making a big mistake if it took the federal government’s offer on $10 a day daycare without a lot of fine-tuning.
Speaking on CJBQ’s Lorne Brooker Show Tuesday Todd Smith said the federal government’s initial offer on childcare wouldn’t work because of the size of the province’s full day kindergarten programs which cost the province close to $4 billion a year.
Smith describes what would happen if his government just accepted the federal offer as is.
” … and then six months later it was discovered that well Alberta is getting $10 a day daycare but because the Premier and Education Minister took the first offer that came we’re getting $25 a day daycare in Ontario so we have to make sure we’re getting Ontario’s fair share because we’re negotiating for those moms and dads.”
Smith also said getting the right daycare deal will boost the economy allowing more people, especially women, to get back into the workforce.
Negotiations continue between the Ontario and the federal governments and Smith expects a deal will be reached sooner rather than later.
