QUEEN’S PARK – Today, Michael Harris, MPP for Kitchener – Conestoga and Rob Leone, Member of Provincial Parliament for Cambridge – North Dumfries, joined parents at an extended day child care rally prior to the first Waterloo Region District School Board “information” meeting at Driftwood Public School in Kitchener.

“The WRDSB should hold real public consultations that take into account the concerns of families in Waterloo Region,” said Leone. “Parents have a voice, and they are looking for listening ears. Parents want third-party operators to provide before and after school care, and I will continue to call on John Milloy and the Liberal Government to do in Waterloo Region what they did in Dalton McGuinty’s own riding.”

The meeting at Driftwood Public School is the first of many “information” meetings across the Waterloo Region. Representatives at the Waterloo Region District School Board have already stated that the only way the Board can operate the extended day program is by having the Board run child care in every school.

“To the best of my knowledge, every other school board in Ontario provides the opportunity for third-party providers to offer the extended day option for 4 to 7 year old students,” said Natalie Waddell, concerned parent and creator of wrdsbdaycare.com. “The school board is taking affordability, accessibility and the choice away from parents by pushing their ill-conceived plans for child care onto our families.”

“Parents and guardians – not the school board – should be the ultimate decision makers when choosing the day care provider most appropriate for their children. In their determination to become the only board in Ontario to take over extended day child care, the Waterloo Region District School Board is eliminating that choice thereby failing local families,” said Harris. “It’s time Kitchener-Centre MPP John Milloy joined all other Waterloo Region MPPs in supporting local parents. We encourage Mr. Milloy to follow Premier Dalton McGuinty’s lead by directing the WRDSB to implement the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board’s model, which supports existing before and after-school programs.”

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CONTACT:
Adam Yahn | 416-325-8451 | 416-574-8492 | adam.yahn@pc.ola.org
Ken Audziss | 519-954-8679 ext.227 | ken@MichaelHarrisMPP.ca