If premier Ford of Ontario and the federal government argue about it long enough, that $10-a-day daycare will become mute. In a time of serious inflationary pressures, ten dollars has already lost some substantive buying power. It is like two skiers trying to negotiate as they clear the flags and moguls of a down-hill ski course.
It seems though that when both parties benefit from the outcome, negotiations would be fast and easy. Maybe Doug Ford thinks he has something to prove but the longer he delays, the less currency he takes away.
What both sides in the negotiations know is that both benefit from more women being made available to the workforce, the more taxes are collected. More jobs are created and, again, the more revenue both governments have available. It is a win, win, win.
Everyone understands that Toronto has the most expensive daycare in Canada. You would expect that. The fact that Ontario pioneered all-day kindergarten for children at ages four and five is not relevant unless it was also negotiated with the other provinces. As it stands today, the federal government does not have paying for part of Ontario’s education system as part of the negotiation.
What is also understood across Canada is that Ontario could have afforded to go it alone on a $10-a-day daycare model. It was one of the few provinces that could afford it. And it will definitely benefit from it.
And if premier Ford thinks he can do away with all-day kindergarten, he has another think coming. It would be the straw that broke many a conservative’s back. All-day kindergarten works for Ontario and it is here to stay.
The brass ring for Doug Ford is right there in easy reach. All he has to do is tell finance minister Freeland that he is in. He will be welcomed graciously.
-30-
Copyright 2021 © Peter Lowry
Complaints, comments, criticisms and compliments can be sent to: