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The Peterborough Examiner
Fri Nov 27 2009
A free family concert will be held Sunday at Market Hall to raise awareness about the need and importance of affordable publicly funded child care.
The It’s Time to Jump Up for Public Child Care concert tour is a project of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care and the Ontario Federation of Labour.
“There is a desperate need for child care both across the province and here in Peterborough,” said Alison Davidson, a CUPE national representative.
“More and more often parents are finding themselves in a situation where when they need child care spaces, there are no spaces available,” she said.
“A dollar spent on child care represents a dollar spent on economic development.”
There are also cost-savings in health care, social services and the justice system because of money spent on “the front end of learning and care,” Davidson said.
Since Quebec implemented universal child care 10 years ago, child poverty has dropped by 50% and women’s participation in the workforce has risen by 40%, she said.
Davidson said the concert is a chance to show governments there are people interested in the cause.
Marion Burton, president of the Peterborough and District Labour Council, said it’s time for politicians to stop “promising (child care) will be a reality but saying it just won’t happen now.”
It’s also an important part of economic recovery in light of the recession, she said.
Parents will be encouraged to sign petitions and given tips on how they can get involved in the cause.
NOTE:The concert will feature Juno-nominated musicianChris McKhooland local authorJan Thornhill.
There will also be face painting, treats for children, a door-prize draw for the grownups and a free children’s book done by all three participating organizations.
