Manitoba's future depends on quality, accessible, affordable childcare!

WHAT: Childcare is Essential Rally to Support Child Care

WHEN: Thursday, August 20th, 4:30 p.m.

WHERE: 1840 Grant Ave, Winnipeg, MB

Rally to Support Publicly Funded Childcare in Manitoba

Aims to support parents and allies to advocate for equitable, accessible, high-quality childcare

Winnipeg, Manitoba - On Thursday, August 20th at 4:30-6:30 pm, Childcare is Essential (CIE) in partnership with Communities Not Cuts will offer a rally at the Minister of Families’ office at 1840 Grant Ave, Winnipeg on the proposed changes to the Child Care Act and recent attacks on childcare during the COVID-19 pandemic that have added to the longstanding crisis in both accessibility and worker compensation in the sector.

 CIE is bringing attention to our 5 Red Flags about the proposed Child Care Act Amendments: 

• Proposed amendments remove the cap on childcare fees. This could more than double costs for families
• The Province wants to save money on licensing by making it less rigorous. Relaxing the licensing process puts kids at risk
• Childcare Centres need increased government funding, especially in the face of Covid-19. Without additional government funding for public programs, centres will close
• The government operating grant for Enhanced Nursery Schools is on the chopping block. These cuts will result in closures affecting thousands of families
• The proposed amendments will make it even more difficult to access a childcare space for a child with inclusion support needs

CIE is calling for an immediate stop to the proposed Child Care Act amendments as well as actions to maintain and build towards a fully accessible, publicly-funded, non-profit system of comprehensive and high-quality childcare throughout the province. This includes worthy wages and good working conditions for childcare staff who are currently leaving the sector in large numbers due to an affordability crisis.

CIE aims to highlight that during a pandemic is not the time to restructure child care and increase costs to parents. The group is working to build widespread political support to force any federally-allocated childcare dollars to be used in good faith in Manitoba - in contrast to how dollars for climate change and healthcare have been received by Premier Pallister.

Speakers:

 Brenda Still MA, ECE III is a program supervisor at K.I.D.S. Inc.

Jenn Collette, Non-Profit Childcare Board Chairperson

Media are welcome and encouraged to attend.

CONTACT:

organize@childcareisessential.ca

*Wear your masks and practice physical distancing!!*