Winnipeg, MB – The Manitoba NDP stood alongside the Manitoba Child Care Association (MCCA) today as they presented more than 26,000 signatures that called for an end to an operating funding freeze for child care centres.

The NDP also condemned the Pallister government for cutting the operating budget for child care centres by $1.4 million in their last provincial budget.

“As the father of a baby myself, I know very well how important affordable and reliable licensed child care is for Manitoba families,” said NDP Leader Wab Kinew. “Child care centres are struggling because the Pallister government has refused to increase their funding in over three years. The government must recognize access to child care as an essential service for young families.”

The MCCA-led initiative saw hundreds of petition papers circulated around the child care system, with more than 26,000 signatures from parents, grandparents and Early Childhood Educators. The petition calls for government to increase operating funding in order to “stabilize and support a system that is in jeopardy”.

The petitions note a shortage of trained Early Childhood Educators has worsened, making it harder for public child care centres to operate high-quality facilities that provide early learning supports for young children.

Kinew noted the wait list for a licensed child care seat continues to grow. The government has failed to update the publicly available list in over a year. In June 2018 the list was more than 17,500 names.