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WINDSOR, Ont.Parents from across Windsor and Essex County have been urged to tell their City Councillors to Have a Heart’ and vote against closing down nine municipally-operated child care facilities in the city and county.
Over 100 concerned parents, children and local residents packed Club Alouette this evening to hear from the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care (OCBCC) what steps they can take in advance of a City Council meeting scheduled to take place February 1.
The loss of so many high-quality, publicly-delivered early learning spacesmany of which are the only such spaces available for special-needs childrenwould be a tragedy for parents and for the city, OCBCC Coordinator Andrea Calver told those in attendance.
The OCBCC quickly organized this evening’s public meeting after learning from concerned parents in the community that City staff had prepared a report recommending closure of the nine municipally-operated child cares for council to vote on February 1. The vote is taking place without any public consultation or apparent regard for the impact such a closure would have on families who rely on public child care.
The absence of any meaningful consultation with families is a huge concern, said local parent Shannon Porcelline. The City is being short-sighted and this could wind up costing the city even more over the long term, she added.
Parents who attended today’s meeting received fact sheets about the state of child care in Windsor and Essex County, as well as tips on how to make a deputation before City Council in advance of the February 1 City Council meeting.
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For more information, contact:
Andrea Calver OCBCC Coordinator 416-434-8031
Shannon Porcelline Parent Action Group 519-562-1572 (mobile)
