Code Blue for Child Care

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Good child care makes Canada more democratic: Code Blue for Child Care

A national child care program is fundamental to a democratic Canada, says Code Blue for Child Care, a cross-Canada campaign to make child care a central issue in this federal election. The Code Blue coalition will join with other groups to support the Day for Democracy activities on Wednesday, April 6.

 “Good child care promotes and exemplifies democracy in action,” said Shellie Bird, Ottawa coordinator of Code Blue.  “A universal, public early childhood education and care system provides an environment where children and adults practise respect for diversity and social inclusion. It is also a community institution in its own right, and critical to women’s equality.”

A key principle that unites the groups in the Code Blue campaign is that Canada’s national child care system must be built on publicly-managed, democratically-controlled services.

“Child care is not a business,” said Sue Delanoy of the Child Care Advocacy Association on Canada. “When child care is run as a business, decisions are made by owners and shareholders – not by the community and parents. The priority is making a profit—not quality services or children’s well-being. This flies in the face of democratic participation and the public interest.”

Code Blue says a national child care program is not only the “smart thing” for a society to put in place but also the “right thing” – a human right and a children’s right. The coalition’s goal is to elect a federal government that will commit to developing an early childhood education and care system available to all families of young children in Canada. Code Blue brings together national, provincial/territorial child care organizations, labour and women’s organizations, social justice and anti-poverty groups – Canadians from all walks of life.

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For more information:

Shellie Bird- Code Blue for Child Care- 613-233-0228

Sue Delanoy-Child Advocacy Association- 306-241-4952

Authorized by Code Blue for Child Care