Full text of the resolution is as follows:
Emergency Resolution 1 – Child Care Campaign
CUPE Saskatchewan will:
- Pressure the provincial government to take a strong stand against the cancellation of the child care agreements.
- Actively support provincial child care advocacy organizations to protect the child care agreements.
- Forcefully lobby federal government MPs in Saskatchewan and the party leaders to pressure them not to cancel the child care agreements.
- Vigorously take part in the major campaign spearheaded by the Child Care Advocacy Association of Canada for a not-for-profit national child care program that begins with honouring the federal-provincial agreements and significant federal funding in the 2006 federal budget.
Because:
- All the provinces signed agreements with the federal government to secure funding for enhancing a provincial child care program.
- The newly elected federal Conservative government has publicly stated that it will cancel these agreements by March 31, 2007.
- Prime Minister Harper will introduce a taxable allowance of $1,200 per year to families for each child under age 6 which will not address the urgent need for increased funding to child care.
- Provincial governments need the funding to make essential improvements to their child care systems.
- CUPE members and their families will be negatively impacted by reduced child care spaces and facilities in need of improvements.
Submitted by the CUPE Saskatchewan Executive
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