Childcare centres left behind by government
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/01/2022 (494 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
I would like to wish the constituents of Union Station a happy and healthy new year and I hope that you all were able to safely connect with your loved ones.
For many, the start of the new year is an opportunity to have a renewed perspective and make efforts to begin the year on a positive and productive note.
While so many Manitobans did just that, less than two weeks into 2022, the premier set a very different tone for our province. She openly told us all that we are on our own — a reflection of a clear lack of any desire or willingness to be the leader Manitoba needs during a time where we’re seeing unprecedented COVID-19 cases overwhelming our health-care system and affecting so many other people and sectors, including early childhood education.
Childcare centres are desperately struggling under the exponential increase of cases and are sounding the alarm. We believe that the Progressive Conservative government has a responsibility to protect families. That’s why we’ve called on the government to support the childcare sector by taking tangible steps such as providing high-quality masks, access to rapid tests, upgrading ventilation, and offering a pandemic pay bump for early childhood educators.
Childcare educators, like many other folks in the province, are overwhelmed, stressed, exhausted, and scared. There has been enough time between waves of this pandemic to put in place the measures needed to keep childcare centres safe, but with each wave the PC caucus has failed to be proactive, first under Brian Pallister and now under Premier Stefanson.
Many daycares have faced closures due to outbreaks, leaving staff and families in vulnerable positions. The Manitoba Child Care Association has been calling for increased protections for early childhood educators, highlighting that early childhood educators are working with the most vulnerable population, as younger children are often ineligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccines.
The PCs have taken no meaningful action to provide support to childcare centres during this uncertain period and that is unacceptable. This government has a history of mistreating women-dominated professions and its refusal to value the childcare sector is absolutely shameful.
Early childhood educators must not be overlooked and need to be given the respect they deserve through funding, wages, protections, and actions.
Our NDP caucus has and will continue to prioritize the needs of our constituents and getting through this pandemic together.
I will continue to bring the voices of Union Station residents to the legislature. Please contact me with any questions or concerns at 204-306-8581 or uzoma.asagwara@yourmanitoba.ca
Uzoma Asagwara
Union Station constituency report
Uzoma Asagwara is the NDP MLA for Union Station.