Laurie Scott MPP

Scott Wants Liberal Child Care Space Rejection Reviewed
Auditor General Should Review Decision by Chambers

(Queen’s Park, Toronto) In a statement to the Ontario Legislative Assembly today, Laurie Scott, MPP for Haliburton-Victoria-Brock, requested the Minister of Children and Youth Services to put aside a personal vendetta against Kawartha-Victoria and re-consider her decision to refuse any child care spaces under the Best Start program.

“If the Minister is genuinely concerned, she will request the Auditor General to review the Best Start decisions and funding process and allow our communities to know exactly why she made the decision for zero Best Start child care spaces,” said Scott. “It is irresponsible and regrettable for Minister Chambers to take her personal vendetta out on our families and young children.”

Scott mentioned the fact the recent Auditor General’s report revealed a severe misuse to taxpayer dollars in the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.

“While the Minister of Children and Youth Services runs a Ministry that is abusing taxpayers money with $59,000 luxury vehicles, gym memberships of $2000 along with personal trainers, fancy dinners and trips to the Caribbean and Argentina, she has personally decided that zero spaces will be available to the children and families in my riding,” said Scott. “As a result of a personal vendetta, which the Minister refuses to put aside for the sake of our children, Kawartha-Victoria is not receiving even one single Best Start space.”

“The Minister needs to stop pointing fingers and blaming others for her broken promises at the expense of our children.”

- 30 -
For Further Information Contact:
Laurie Scott, MPP
705-324-6654
1-800-424-2490

Hansard Statement Attached

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, trips to the Caribbean, Argentina and other exotic locations and the $2,000 dollar gym memberships, which 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, 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.