betsy

Indeed. She was one of the guests at Mike Duffy only last Friday yet she made no such claims. You'd think she had the golden opportunity to warn the public of this impending doom. I guess she figured it would be hard to explain and back that claim. What she did though was try to scare the pants off women!

The Liberal government is trying to create a need when actually the real existing need can easily be remedied without resorting to GRANDIOSE measures. The Liberal government is deaf. The main reason why majority of people reject this MONOPOLY is because it intrudes on parents' rights! As a taxpayer who'll be footing the colossal bill, I definitely do not agree. I see this as another irresponsible way of handling taxpayers money. As a parent being told by the Liberals, "you do not make decisions how your child should be raised. I do." I'm fuming right now and all I can think of is an expletive x-rated "up ****" rebutt. (no pun intended).

How will the Liberal government ensure that there won't be a fast turn over of staff?

Another important matter too is that sometime before the last election, childcare advocates were saying that they have a big problem. They were losing qualified care providers in public daycares at a fast rate. They want to lure them to stay by raising their salaries. The National Childcare is not yet here....and yet....the problems are already starting. How does the Liberal want to rectify this problem?

At least, the option is there. This is what it's all about why a lot do not favor National Childcare. Options. The right of parents to choose and decide what is best for their children and what works well for their family's needs.

Strings attached? We've been giving money to welfare recipients with no strings attached. When someone suggested the government must ensure the money is not spent on drugs and booze...there was a big outrrage about it. So parents cannot...and therefore, should not be trusted with the money? If that's the message by the Liberal government....why, I consider that a terrible insult to parents...and to the working public who had been working hard and paying high taxes to support welfare and other social programs!

Do you think your corporation would take advantage of the tax breaks Harper is offering for corporations to start daycare centres for their employees? There are already some workplaces that have daycares for their employees. Harper's plan is to encourage more of these.

PM - Harper Ethics Commissioner - Deborah Grey Social development - Elsie Wayne International Affairs - Solberg Auditor General - the current one (I forgot her name) Ambassadors: Jack Layton (China) Rona Ambrose (USA) Gil Duceppe (France) Carolyn Parrish (Iraq) Ducross (Iran)

I like Harper as my Prime Minister. Then I'll let him decide whom he thinks will work well with him and his policies. Well, what can I say? I like the platform that he's laid out....I want to see how it goes. I have no wish to let him be PM, only to tie his hands to hinder him from accomplishing his policies.

So true! For the last 3 years, needs of parents had changed dramatically. Most of our parents are working shifts or have irregular schedules. And I've described somewhere the plight of the single mom who is trying to enter the workforce....working as a cashier (casual) at a grocery store with varying hours....the government-funded agency dropped her saying they cannot accomodate her schedules. She is typical of a lot of single parents (men and women) trying to survive out there....they're the ones who need the help most. The last time I heard, she quit her job. Now, that's truly progressive.

Yet this is what Harper proposes by opening the door for the big box Walmart sized daycares waiting for the go ahead to come up from the US. When he talks about tax breaks for corporations to set up daycares, who do you think that will mean? Small businesses aren't going to take him up on that - the tax break isn't worth it to them. What's wrong if the big companies open up their daycares? Obviously they'll have to meet the approved standards. So what if the small business don't take him up on that? They get a break from other areas...such as capital gains tax. And it's not a cookie-cutter...because an amployed parent can still choose if she wants to use her company's daycare or get somebody else.

Just to be clear, I'm giving my interpretation of what has been said by the Liberals - I believe this to be what Martin means. Early childhood learning recognizes that children are learning throughout childhood; learning doesn't start when they turn 5 and go to kindergarten. But the learning is not the academic education the school system provides; it is physical, social, and emotional, as well as cognitive. No one is saying that parents and grandparents can't provide this. But the majority of children will not spend all of their time at home with a parent before entering the school system, and more and more grandmothers (such as myself) are still in the workforce, or living too far away. Quality child care means that, when you care for groups of children, you need to understand how to meet the needs of the group while still meeting individual needs, and provide activities and experiences that will be age appropriate and foster learning. This is not limited to child care centres. Family child care providers are a natural choice for many parents, as it allows children to be in a homelike setting. Another option is part time Nursery school. Early learning happens in all settings, its more about ensuring that there are some standards and accountability for the public money that goes to support child care. Climbing off of my soapbox...... It's good...and I agree about the need for encouraging the physical, cognitive and social development of a child. Do you know that hose can be achieved now by providing specially-designed toys for such purposes. The variety of planned activities by a creative parent, grandmother, babysitter can stimulate a child. What I'm trying to say is.....parenting and childcaring is getting help in meeting those needs. A lot of care-givers in the private sectors had taken workshops. Some had experiences in the teaching field. While others, though lacking in those kind of formal training....have achieved their own style of "teaching" through the natural understanding of children. Some just have this magical, natural way with children. I am not reassured by the word "ensure." For I can easily point out that with all the "ensuring" that went on in our government system....the sponsorship scandal still managed to happen....and before that, the Human Resources scandal....and most recently, allegations about Income Trust Leak...and Options Canada....and the bribery scandal by a Liberal candidate. Another important matter too is that sometime before the last election, childcare advocates were saying that they have a big problem. They were losing qualified care providers in public daycares at a fast rate. They want to lure them to stay by raising their salaries. It is the bureacracy that's driving the staff out of their field. They are burning out fast. If there is a demand for ECE personnel....check out your local ads and you'll see somebody with ECE advertising as a private home daycare. Why would they rather work as private home daycares than fill up positions in public daycares? This fast turn-over of staff is definitely not good for the children. They'll always be adjusting to somebody new. There is no stability. And this does not bode well for the taxpayers either. Here comes the dreaded Union. And we'll be held hostage.

Drea, give Harper a chance to prove himself. There's been too many scare-mongering...things blown out of proportions or simply made up.

Don't forget the car! Most middle-class folks change cars every so often!

I don't have any kids of my own....yet I pay school tax. When I was with the govt-funded agency, I had a mother on welfare who picked up her kid at an unexpectedly early time. Apparently she decided to skip school that day and so she was there yapping with me for so long. You know what, she came in a taxi...and all that time the taxi was waiting outside. I guess you could say, she was entitled . But as a taxpayer.... I was paying for that. But that's life. We all have to contribute one way or another. And then you hear about those blasted corruptions and wasteful spendings by those who have created a climate of entitylement...on the backs of the working people! No matter what they say, the Liberals do not share the same values as that of most Canadians! So, can you blame if I just want to see them gone?

Betsy, you are right in saying that there is nothing wrong with early learning at home - I'm assuming you mean with a parent at home. I stayed at home, as I've mentioned before, when my younger two children were small. It was good for me, good for them, not so good for my career or for our family income. But for most families, that just isn't an option. A system doesn't mean that every child is in child care, any more than having a health system means that we all have heart bypass surgery. A system means that, when a service is needed, it is available. The Liberal child care plan talks about the QUAD principles of Quality, Universality, Accessibility, and Development - the Conservative plan does nothing on any of those fronts. The Conservative plan is short sighted and fondly looks back to a time when women had no options but to stay barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen. <edit> Yes, the best form of welfare is a job, but you can't work if you don't have child care. QUAD. Harper's plan fits that profile. So there's no problem there. Quality Harper's plan does not eliminate quality. Actually it will help boost...or at least maintain quality by means of healthy competition. There is a certain standard to be followed....that's why we have the Day Nurseries Act. Universality Everybody gets the break. Accessibility Spaces galore, my friend! Parents' head will swirl from too many choices, in fact. Development You bet. Since it is the parents' rights....it is also the parents' responsibility to choose which one they think will be beneficial for their children.

Betsy, you are right in saying that there is nothing wrong with early learning at home - I'm assuming you mean with a parent at home. I stayed at home, as I've mentioned before, when my younger two children were small. It was good for me, good for them, not so good for my career or for our family income. But for most families, that just isn't an option. A system doesn't mean that every child is in child care, any more than having a health system means that we all have heart bypass surgery. A system means that, when a service is needed, it is available. The Liberal child care plan talks about the QUAD principles of Quality, Universality, Accessibility, and Development - the Conservative plan does nothing on any of those fronts. The Conservative plan is short sighted and fondly looks back to a time when women had no options but to stay barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen. <edit> Yes, the best form of welfare is a job, but you can't work if you don't have child care. QUAD principle. Sounds very appealing to me Melanie. But you see...the big problem is: It's coming from the Liberals! Their credibility sucks. I was in a rush to go when I answered your post, Melanie....so now that I'm back, let me just repeat myself again. I am for family values....and imho, the parents should have the right to choose what they think is best for their children. That is the main reason why I am against National Childcare....it intrudes on parents' rights. Plus compounded by the fact that it is coming from the Liberals. We know the boondagles of Liberals....nice packaging and trimmings....but hardly any substance. Of course, there is nothing wrong with early childcare learning at home! And it does not necessarily means at home with a parent, either. It could be a grandmother, a neighbor, a friend....or even what everyone calls with derision, a "babysitter." Quality early childhood learning is not exclusive to institutions. Okay, just to make sure I get this right....Melanie, what does Martin exactly means by early childhood learning?

Betsy, you are right in saying that there is nothing wrong with early learning at home - I'm assuming you mean with a parent at home. I stayed at home, as I've mentioned before, when my younger two children were small. It was good for me, good for them, not so good for my career or for our family income. But for most families, that just isn't an option. A system doesn't mean that every child is in child care, any more than having a health system means that we all have heart bypass surgery. A system means that, when a service is needed, it is available. The Liberal child care plan talks about the QUAD principles of Quality, Universality, Accessibility, and Development - the Conservative plan does nothing on any of those fronts. The Conservative plan is short sighted and fondly looks back to a time when women had no options but to stay barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen. <edit> Yes, the best form of welfare is a job, but you can't work if you don't have child care. QUAD principle. Sounds very appealing to me Melanie. But you see...the big problem is: It's coming from the Liberals! Their credibility sucks.

Yeah, right! So far, from what heard from a debate in Toronto.... Provinces are complaining about Martin's "Father knows best" approach. They say the Liberals had torn down the community programs. At a radio station, tehy talk about the problems of the maritimes that they say the government do not understand. The provinces are complaining about too much interference! Good! Harper's reviewing those done deals by the Liberals! Good for him! I put that as a plus-point on his score. As a leader, it shows he'll take nothing for granted....especially with the golden record of the Liberals for fudging, poor mathematical skills, and a steady pattern of corruptions....EVERYTHING that the Liberals did should all be reviewed! You betcha....at the rate they're peeling off like an onion.....there'll be more corruptions likely to be un-earthed by reviewing them again. Most of these Liberal policies were hastily thrown in anyway. Somebody's gotta do it right. Obviously that ain't the Liberals! Sorry if I offend you with the "earth to..." Sometimes I do get carried away. Well, the way the Liberals are "governing" the nation seem to be pushing Canada to be split up like a melon! That is already a proven. You may know a lot of intricacies or have a better understanding of politics, as you claim.....and I may be stupid in your opinion, ignorant and easily fooled. But you know what? I just say it like an ordinary bloke, a disgruntled taxpayer...one of the common people out there. Being a staunch Liberal supporter, your assessment of me is not surprising. The Liberals have been treating us as ignorant fools all these time.

You gotta be kidding me! Yoo-hoo. Earth to Eureka....hello?

That is your own opinion. It is not fact. But I do heard of the dubious way the UN handle things. This prestigious and highly noble organization that your Liberal had aligned himself with....forsaking neighbor and ally and largest trading partner, and most likely the one who'll be rushing to help us defend our own shores in case of attacks from terrorists or other foreign aggression (since we do not have the means to defend ourselves). I had seen documentaries of Rwanda. I had seen multitudes of children (as if all lives whether young or old are not equal in value) mutilated and murdered savagely. The UN simply walked away. I am not interested with your boogeyman scenarios. If you're going to poke holes...back it up with facts or evidence! Reason or talk like an everyday jane or john doe. Stop being a parrot.

Look at the news happening everyday, Eureka. What I see is growing crime rate..........YOUTH CRIMES! Practically most heinous and violent crimes are done by the youth. This sudden rise in YOUTH CRIMES....the frequency is so frightening and seem like a phenomenon.....became so prominent under the Liberal watch! YOUTH CRIMES ballooned in proportion under the Liberal watch. Whatever kind of social policy the Liberals had or have in place right now is surely not working. It's almost like it's designed to do exactly the opposite! Another bundle of taxpayers money wasting away. The actual cause of this horrendous surging of Youth Crime is an interesting subject that I would like to pursue in another topic.

The Chamber of Commerce of Canada, in its review of all the platforms of the parties had positive hopes about the way Harper will handle the US. This chamber had voiced concern over the handling of the Liberal government of the USA, seriously concerned about the impact it will have on our economy. The speaker mentioned that 80% of our trade is done with the US. She worries about jobs. JOBS! To me, that means INCOME. Income means MONEY. Without money, you are poor.

You are forgeting one thing: The Liberals had been promising National Childcare for 12 years but have not delivered. What makes you think he will, if elected again? Think of those poor kids who had grown and missed the blessed opportunity of getting the Early Childhood opportunities that you so highly speak of. So the Liberals had decided 12 years ago that this is what was DESPERATELY needed. Well? What were they waiting for....next lifetime? If something so supposedly highly important such as this could sit on the Liberal shelf for 12 years, I hate to think what else is or will be gathering dust on that shelf. Please, enough is enough! Have pity on Martin and stop bringing up the issues that only gets plastered on him.

This fiasco will end up as examples in future marketing, political, image consulting and related courses.