ACTION: Support Code Blue for child care

October 31, 2007

I wanted to draw your attention to Code Blue, which "is a Canada-wide campaign to build a real pan-Canadian child care system. The campaign brings together national, provincial and territorial child care organizations, labour, women's and social justice groups along with Canadians from all walks of life."

If you go to their website, you will find news items, campaign resources, and information on what you can do.

Of particular note, you can read their recent media release which warns, "that a foreign corporation (ABC Learning Centres of Australia and the 123 group of companies) is trying to establish a controlling-interest in Canadian child care. To avert this threat, the advocacy group, Code Blue for Child Care is asking Prime Minister Harper to give Royal Recommendation to Bill C303, the Early Learning and Child Care Act. This Act, which discourages expansion of for-profit child care, returns to the House of Commons for a decisive vote on November 20...Bill C 303 has the support of all the opposition parties in Parliament, Code Blue is urging Harper and the Conservative Government to drop their opposition and proclaim The Child Care Act to ensure that future federal funding goes to children, not to enrich shareholders."

You can also "Add your name to the report card giving Stephen Harper a failing grade on child care." There are currently 2,751 names on this 'stop Stephen Harper playing with scissors' card and I've just added my name this morning.

Brent Patterson, Director of Organizing and Campaigns, The Council of Canadians