Mantha’s News from the Park : Childcare & Healthcare in Ontario
Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Michael Mantha
This week in the legislature Ontario New Democrats were successful in passing a motion calling on Ontario to support a universal plan for $15 per day childcare. The leadership of Ontario New Democrats has ensured that Ontario officially endorses the $15 a day child care plan put forward by Tom Mulcair and the federal NDP.
This is a common concern I hear in Algoma-Manitoulin, and across this province. Families are struggling not only to find childcare spaces, but struggling to pay the cost of daycare. Families with more than one child often don’t find it economically feasible for one parent to return to work given their salary is equal or less than childcare costs.
My colleagues and I are proud Ontario is sending a clear message of support for $15 a day childcare here in Ontario. Universal affordable childcare will help families, and help our economy grow. It’s good for parents and it’s good for children, it’s a win-win.
People across this country know the federal Liberals have repeatedly broken promises to create a universal childcare system; the New Democrat motion links to commitments made by the Federal NDP to create universal $15 per day childcare across the country.
Families in Ontario pay an average of $1,152 per month for one childcare space, while families in Quebec pay an average of $152 per month. Ontario needs to do better. The fact is that every child, regardless of where they live or how much their family makes, deserves access to high-quality and affordable childcare.
In the last election, New Democrats were the only party to promise an increase in childcare funding every year linked to inflation, on top of immediate increased investment.
Friday at Queen’s Park thousands of Ontarians gathered to defend public healthcare. Many people living in rural and northern Ontario don’t have equal access to healthcare that those in urban areas receive.
The health of our families depends on access to high-quality public healthcare services in every community across Ontario. That access is under direct threat because of Liberal cuts to frontline care, frozen hospital budgets, and the expansion of private clinics. Ontario New Democrats will continue to work every day in our communities, and at the Legislature, to stop Liberal cuts to health services and to protect our public healthcare system
As always, please feel free to contact my office about this issue or any other provincial matters. You can reach my constituency office by email at mmantha-co@ndp.on.ca or by phone at 705-461-9710/1-800-831-1899.
MPP Michael Mantha, Algoma-Manitoulin
