Harper and Child Care chapter
Excerpt
February 6, 2006 was a big day for the newly elected minority Conservative government. Stephen Harper introduced his new cabinet, set the date for the start of the new Parliament, and was sworn in as Prime Minister. Moments later, he terminated the early learning and child care agreements that would have provided $5 billion as a first step to building a national child care system in Canada.
Harper declared that his government would meet the needs of children through a new taxable monthly allowance of $100 for children under six, as promised in the election campaign -- and ridiculed by Liberal spokesperson Scott Reid as "beer and popcorn money."
Clearly, child care was at the very top of the government's list of five priorities. As long-time child care advocate Jamie Kass recalls, "it was the first time ever that we were hoping to be ignored by government. Instead, child care was the first target."
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From the book "The Harper Record"