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Yvonne Jones, Opposition Health and Community Services Critic and MHA for
the District of Cartwright - L’Anse Au Clair, says while it is important for
people in Newfoundland and Labrador to celebrate National Child Day, it is
also important that we continue to raise the serious issues facing children
in our province.
"Child poverty is still far too high and no child should have to live in
an oil rich province while lacking the everyday needs of our society," said
Jones. "The Minister read a statement in the House of Assembly Monday
regarding National Child Day, but there are many questions that remain
unanswered regarding child poverty issues in this province."
Over one million children in Canada live in poverty and 24,000 children
in Newfoundland & Labrador live in poverty. "These numbers are astounding
and need to be addressed because it is unacceptable. Poverty is becoming
more prevalent and it is a very difficult issue to address in rural areas
given the overall problems being faced in those parts of the province. As
the fishery declines, government infrastructure dollars dry up, businesses
close and people are left in desperate states or survive on reduced
incomes."
The federal government signed over $50 million in the past few months for
child services. Today, there are 49,000 children under the age of 12 in
Newfoundland and Labrador. Only 4,500 of them can enroll in child care
centers. "We are lacking in childcare services, we need to enhance the
availability and we also need to ensure that rate structures are appropriate
for the service. We have highly educated individuals who work in our child
care centers, but these individuals are underpaid. In order to retain highly
skilled workers for our children, it is essential to increase wages from the
$7 or $8 per hour that they are currently being paid. The vast majority of
these workers are women."
The Liberal MHA called on the provincial government to act on the
pressure they are receiving from the women’s movement in the province and
ensure that federal funding is used to impact on the quality and
accessibility of childcare for Newfoundland & Labrador families.
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