We Manitoba Liberals will reduce wait times for day care and early childhood education

For the last twelve years under the NDP there have been extraordinarily long wait times for child care and early childhood education.   This morning I was at the Little Saints Daycare.  They have 38 spaces which are all full.  They have 188 kids on their waiting list.   When it comes to waiting times for child care and early childhood education there is still a big problem.  The NDP just have not done the job that needs to be done.

Today, I announced our commitment of $44.5 million dollars in the first year of a Liberal government to create more early childhood education and day care spaces and to reduce the wait times.   We have also committed to improved partnerships with community organizations and schools.  Further we committed today to improved early screening and treatment for learning disorders in both the early childhood education system and in the school system. 

We are doing this because the positive relationship between childcare quality and virtually every facet of children's development is one of the most consistent findings in development science.  This effort will help our children and it will help our school system and it will reduce crime by better preparing children for school and for life.  Studies have shown every dollar invested in this way will save seven dollars down the road.  Many of the dollars saved are in reduced costs to our justice system!

We recognize that this is a large infusion of dollars into the child care-early childhood education system.  We are doing this because one of the most important things we can do is ensure our children are well prepared and do well.