Tories misled public on daycare funding changes, Liberals allege

The Gallant Liberals say they have the facts on their side when it comes to daycare funding,but they're still having to play catch-up in the battle over public opinion.

The government was under fire again Thursday for what the Opposition Progressive Conservatives call "cuts" to daycare subsidies.

And its frustration became more evident, especially with PC MLA Jody Carr, who led the Opposition attack during question period.

"Will you reverse this cut that detrimentally affects the women of New Brunswick, the communities of New Brunswick, and put this on holdreverse these cuts until you do your homework?" Carr asked.

Premier Brian Gallant responded that the change is not a cut at all: the province will move $2.4 million, previously used to subsidize 260 owner-operators of private, for-profit daycares, into a fund to top up the pay of daycare workers.

The boost to the Quality Improvement Financial Program will allow newly hired workers to be paid $5 per hour more if they get required training, and $3.07 per hour more if they don't.

Current employees of regulated daycares already get that extra pay.

In fact, the Liberals say, on top of the $2.4 million being moved, they're putting another $400,000 into the fund.

"I think it's very important that we make it very clear that there is no cut, despite the fact that the member opposite keeps repeating that there is," Gallant said, referring to Carr.

The memo [PC MLA Jody Carr]prepared and he hassent to parents in New Brunswick via thedaycaresis false.- Serge Rousselle, education minister

And Education Minister Serge Rousselle accused Carr of deliberately misleading parents through a note sent home from daycares last week.

Carr's quick move in getting the note circulated and setting the terms of the debate has irritated the Liberals, who now find themselves on the defensive trying to counter its message.

The note called the change a cut "to daycare operators," and didn't distinguish between for-profit and non-profit daycares. The latter are not affected by the change.

The note also didn't mention that money is being moved to employee wages.

Carr said he "gave advice" on the memo, although Rousselle accuses Carr of writing it, then giving it to daycare operators to send home to parents.

"The memo he prepared and he hassent to parents in New Brunswick via the daycares is false," the minister said on Tuesday.

Carr explained on Twitter that the issue "is evolving" as politicians, daycare operators and the media "get changing info."

Twice in question period on Thursday, Carr prompted approving murmurs from the Liberals across the aisle when he appeared to concede the money was being shifted, not cut.

"You're doing a cut and a shuffle," he said. "You're moving $2.8 [million] over to educators, who are predominantly women."

Later, Carr again referred to the money being moved but this time added another criticism.

"You're taking money from private daycare owners and operators, and giving the money to more workers. But what's the point of giving money to more workers if those private daycare operators are going to close?"

Carr brought several daycare owner-operators to the legislature earlier this week, and some of them told reporters their profit margins are razor-thin. Without the subsidy, they said, they may have to close.

Rousselle says it's a better use of scarce tax dollars to pay better wages to employees, because that will make daycare jobs more attractive and ultimately make child care better and more accessible.