Ontario Hansard - 21-December2006

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Ms. Laurie Scott (Haliburton-Victoria-Brock): I rise today on behalf of the children and families of my riding of Haliburton-Victoria-Brock. After promising with much fanfare an initial investment for Best Start child care spaces, the Minister of Children and Youth Services decided to remove them despite other similar regions in the same circumstances not being affected. As a result of a personal vendetta, which the minister refuses to put aside, Kawartha-Victoria is not receiving one single Best Start space.

Let's not forget about the $59,000 luxury vehicles, the trips to the Caribbean, Argentina and other exotic locations, and the $2,000 gym memberships that she has made hard-working Ontario families pay for. While this is occurring, she has personally decided that out of nearly 15,000 Best Start spaces, Kawartha-Victoria will get zero.

Personal vendettas and political motivations are the priority of the minister and the McGuinty Liberals. They're willing to say anything and do anything, even if it means punishing innocent families and their children.

If she is really genuinely concerned, the minister will personally request the Auditor General to review the best start decisions and funding process and let us know exactly why she made the decision for zero Best Start spaces in Kawartha-Victoria. I challenge her to do that on behalf of the children and families in my riding.

Minister Chambers needs to stop pointing fingers at everyone else and stop taking out her personal vendettas on Ontario's vulnerable children. It's irresponsible and it's regrettable.

The bottom line is that you, Minister, are responsible for hurting the young children who will benefit most from the very thing you are denying them.