Text of the press release:
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is joining the call for an inquest by Ontario's Chief Coroner following the death of 14-month-old Duy-An Nguyen, who died last Friday while attending an unlicensed home-based daycare in Mississauga.
"Many parents utilize home-based daycares and we must make sure that they are as safe as possible," said Horwath.
"An inquest will not bring back the life of Duy-An, but it will help ensure that this kind of tragedy does not happen again."
Horwath is urging the Coroner to look at systemic factors that may have contributed to Duy-An's death.
"This death again raises questions about whether the government's approach to home-based daycare -- in which many providers run home-based daycares without being licensed, inspected or supported -- is ensuring child safety," said Horwath.
She also raised concern about the Minister of Education's response to the death.
"According to the Minister, parents choose whether to put their children into licensed or unlicensed care," said Horwath.
"The reality is that many parents are forced to turn to unlicensed care because there are simply not enough licensed spaces in Ontario."
The Ontario Coalition for Better Childcare and the Ontario Federation of Labour are also calling for a Coroner's inquest into Duy-An's death.