February 6, 2002

Honourable John Baird

Minister of Community and Social Services

With Responsibility for Children

80 Grosvenor Street, 6^th Floor

Hepburn Block, Queens Park

Toronto, Ontario M7A 1E9

Dear Minister Baird:

Bells Corners Co-operative Nursery School (BCCNS), as you may well know, is a non-profit, parent co-operative offering programs for children ages two through four years. With over 35 years experience, we are the oldest and largest nursery school in your riding.

Our school is committed to the early education and development of children. Your government has maintained that you share this commitment. On April 26, 2001 in the Legislature, you said "We are leaders in providing services and supports to children and we are determined to remain so".

On November 14, 2001, the Toronto Star reported that your Ministry is planning for the removal of $200 million from the provincial budget for regulated childcare. Mr. Minister, a 42% budget reduction would make Ontario a leader in the destruction of regulated childcare in Canada.

When your government introduced its Children’s Agenda, it was purportedly done with a view to expanding services for Ontario’s children. Last year, when you introduced the second phase of the Early Years Program in the Legislature, you spoke about the need to prepare children for lifelong learning. At that time you said "we will build on what is working in communities in order to help parents ensure that when their son or daughter gets to school, they will be ready to learn. We want parents to have choice and flexibility."

Mr. Minister, we are what is working in our community. BCCNS prepares children for lifelong learning. We are a fully integrated school and also offer an exceptional four-year-old program so that parents have choice, flexibility and alternatives that meet the individual needs of their young children.

Under the terms of the policy paper prepared by your Ministry, our school would lose $25,000 per annum in teacher wage grants. This money is paid directly into teacher salaries. The removal of these grants would require an 19% reduction in teacher salaries or a 15% increase in school operating expenses. In addition, many families who currently send their children to our school with the assistance of childcare subsidy payments would no longer be able to do so.

As a Board of Directors, we cannot ask our teachers to contemplate an19% reduction in salary. Nor do we think our members can afford the 15% increase in tuition fees that would be required to cover the additional operating costs. We have worked hard to establish a balanced budget in our school, and to maintain tuition levels that ensure access to the broader community.

Mr. Minister, if you and your government are truly committed to the future of Ontario’s children, you will protect funding for regulated childcare. That includes ensuring the existing $470 million budget remains intact, and incorporating the $114 million in new federal transfer payments which has been provided to Ontario for the enhancement of Early Childhood Development Services. Please break your silence on this issue and let Ontarians know that as the Minister with Responsibility for Children you are there to protect the interests of our children.

Our school is just minutes from your constituency office. We would be happy to have you come to our school and see how children thrive in our environment. We would be happy for you to review our financial records to see how these cuts would impact us. But mostly, Mr. Minister, we would be happy to know that you are not going to be the Minister responsible for the destruction of regulated childcare in Ontario.

Sincerely,

Fiona Reid

President

BCCNS

Ottawa Valley Co-operative Preschool Association