Discussions

Just my opinion but I see this Provincial NDP party making last ditch attempts at re-election.  
 
Childcare is a big issue, and nobody can deny it's a major dilemma for many families, but I see it as just another insurmountable expense and a questionable promise.  
 
How many years have they let this go unaddressed and I'm anxious to see the cost estimate at budget time.  
 
Thoughts?  
 
 
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/selinger-poised-to-end-wait-times-for-child-care-spaces-1.3320108  
 

The Provincial government is cutting spending on a lot of programs right now to balance the budget or be fiscally responsible prior to the election. Good luck getting any funds from them until April.

Wages need to be increased to encourage more early childhood educators.

I think this is just a last attempt at trying to stay in power. In order to create the spaces, they need to build quite a few centres for that many kids, as well as find staff for those new places. The wage for ECE, is just not worthwhile right now. They would have to increase wages dramatically to keep people Interested. So where would all this money magically come from.  
I think this is an empty promise for votes, as it is a subject that really does need to be dealt with, so it would bring in votes. But they've had years to be working on this and haven't. It will get pushed to the back burner again.  
 
 
Edited by Cheezies, 2015-11-16 10:02:39

Area's involving children will never be priority. Childcare, education, funding for children with disabilities, etc.  
People are much more concerned about potholes, or spending money on rejuvenating museums....really, these things are important, but I think our children are more important.  
Things seem very backward too me. There is so much focus on affordable housing, low income housing, welfare programs, etc. How about we focus on the children, and give them better education, etc. so they grow up to be adults who don't need low income housing or government assistance. Make it easier to get quality childcare so that families can provide for their kids and work to give them opportunities in life.  
 

But there isn't one promise that the NDP Government hasn't broken.  
Time for change big time!!!!

I agree. The party is broken. My opinion.  
When you betray Manitobans over and over and over, it's going to bite you in the you-know-what.  
 
The interest of children is a tactic that will appeal to young voters.  
 
It will be interesting to see where these spaces will be created and how much it's going to cost. I feel bled dry by this Province right now.  
 
 
 

No matter what we live in an age where affordable really isn't affordable because people making the policies make way too much to understand. Middle class is 50,000 a year and most ppl can't say that they fall into that category . So low income housing is just as important as child care. Kids need a place to live. And all these debates go back to why should "entry level" job workers get x amount when someone who went to college is only making a few more dollars? All these things make no sense because our economy isn't healthy enough to support the workers because our tax dollars aren't going where they should

SJK said "But there isn't one promise that the NDP Government hasn't broken.   Time for change big time!!!! "

Yes, and in that sentiment who are you voting for SJK? Student loans into non-repayable grants or I hate Halloween?

Of your attacks on me because I vote conservative. You act like a big bully so Stop it! Please show me what promises have they kept, is there even one?

Why is it a provincial responsibility and my responsibility as a taxpayer, to subsidize someone's bedroom behaviour, or life choices?  
 
Such as having so many children that it forces both parents to go out and work to maintain a certain lifestyle, what happened to living within your means.  
 
I never had "childcare" growing up I had a mother who stayed home and tended to the children and house (full time job) and a very hard working father.  
 
I'm getting a bit worn down paying subsidies to others, that are 100% in this day and age preventable.

Election promises kept...  
Keep Hydro publicly owned ...check  
Increase minimum wage ..check  
Make it easier to transfer credits between college and university..check  
No to HST..check  
Hire more doctors and nurses..check  
Open quick care clinics...check  
Nurse practitioners...check  
etc etc etc and the list will and can go on maybe you would like to retract your false or "lying" statement now?

That's a pretty solid list of promises they kept. Maybe you should publicly retract your false statement.  
 
Just because you say something out loud in a public forum doesn't make it true. This government has kept more promises than any PC government we've had.

KenJ said "That's a pretty solid list of promises they kept. Maybe you should publicly retract your false statement.     Just because you say something out loud in a public forum doesn't make it true. This government has kept more promises than any PC government we've had. "

Ken that you don't disclose that you have very strong ties to someone who worked or is still working for Drew Caldwell!  
 
A solid list of promises would include:  
Balanced budgets as per legislation.....Fail  
Not raising the PST.........Fail  
Fixing CFS .......Fail  
Not raising taxes.....Fail  
Ending child care wait times.....Fail  
Eliminating school taxes for seniors....Fail  
Clean up lake Winnipeg.....Fail  
 
Do I really need to go on, I can if you like  

You asked for examples. You were given some. You lose this one. And I don't have to state my political affiliations here any more than you do, mystery person.  
 
Since I've been on this site I have seen you make hundreds of broad, bold statements in opposition of the NDP, The Liberals, etc. - always spouting off about your knowledge of the interior workings.  
 
I have not once seen you reveal your actual name on this site, so if you'd like transparency, start with yourself - typical conservative attitude - everyone needs to disclose every detail except Cons.  
 
My name's Ken Jaworski. What's yours SJK?

I mean... you believe in putting your money where your mouth is, yeah? If you believe so passionately that it's important that people know what my affiliations are, you should probably post yours too. I'll just wait right here.

in the interest of complete transparency:  
 
My name is Ken Jaworski  
I've voted NDP for the last 24 years.  
My wife is involved with the NDP locally, volunteering on the committees of Brandon West and Brandon East. She was employed by the Provincial government and worked as a CA for Drew. No secret there. She is no longer employed by the government, but is still active in the local NDP. I am as well, volunteering when I can.  
 
Now let's hear about you, SJK. Everyone has a right to know who's talking right? You've posted over 4000 discussions on this site, most of which are political and also critical.  
 
So why not tell everyone who you are and who you volunteer for! I dare ya.  
 
Edited by KenJ, 2015-11-16 15:40:25

I agree with a focus on children but I don't think that switching to the Provincial Conservatives will do that since their leader was in the Free Press on Saturday the 14th pg A13 saying "I taught grade 9, and there are studies that have shown clearly that Grade 9 boys are incapable of learning much at all."  
I don't know about you but as a parent I believe my son is smarter than that!

new school!!

Yeah, I thought not.  
 
I am happy to disclose my identity when stating my opinions and challenging others. I am not ashamed of my political affiliations, and I stand behind what I say.  
 
If anyone would like any more information about me, feel free to ask! If you want to know more about the loud, trolling conservatives on this site, prepare for silence. When it comes time to put money where mouth is, they get very quiet.

I actually had some small hope that there would be an increase for ece's when they sent surveys to daycares asking how many trained staff they had and asking how many years experience as an ece they had.  
 
Turns out they are only giving a one time pay out to ece's who have (I think around 10 or more years experience) my 5 years as an ece didn't earn me anything. Good work on making incentives for ece's in the field...  
 
Without more wage incentive there will never be enough ece's to work in more centres to open more spots. In my class 28 started, maybe 18 graduated more or less and even less than that continues to work in the field, all around westman.

I have family members that work in childcare and it is a poverty level income. It's even harder if you have children because you need to pay a space for your own child and work for very low pay. Most leave the field after a few years. Yes it's great to be a stay at home parent if your life goes well. if at some time your partner dies, becomes disabled and no longer able to provide for you and your children then you could be forced into poverty. Women with children are more often living in poverty than men. It is just a fact. For all the women who stayed at home in the 50's how many of them today are living living on a widows pension of about 1100 dollars a month wondering how they can get their medications they need today.

I have family members that work in childcare and it is a poverty level income. It's even harder if you have children because you need to pay a space for your own child and work for very low pay. Most leave the field after a few years. Yes it's great to be a stay at home parent if your life goes well. if at some time your partner dies, becomes disabled and no longer able to provide for you and your children then you could be forced into poverty. Women with children are more often living in poverty than men. It is just a fact. For all the women who stayed at home in the 50's how many of them today are living living on a widows pension of about 1100 dollars a month wondering how they can get their medications they need today.

Do our political chest pounders that have taken over this discussion have any solutions/suggestions to the daycare issue?  
 
I also agree wages are the big issue.  
In the past, the ECE program grew the number of courses required to be certified to a 3 year degree level, but the tightly controlled wages are lower than many retail jobs.  
 
In my wife's case, she's a registered home daycare provider and her pre-tax and expenses government controlled earning potential is under $30,000.  
 
In my mind, make the job pay a reasonable wage and people will line up to open day cares.  
This in my mind would be better than spending millions on a useless childcare registry. The millions spent include wages to an endless number of very highly paid bureaucrats that claim it's the underpaid daycare providers fault it's still not working.  
 
Edited by loeog, 2015-11-16 19:13:19

loeog said "Do our political chest pounders that have taken over this discussion have any solutions/suggestions to the daycare issue?     I also agree wages are the big issue.   In the past, the ECE program grew the number of courses required to be certified to a 3 year degree level, but the tightly controlled wages are lower than many retail jobs.     In my wife's case, she's a registered home daycare provider and her pre-tax and expenses government controlled earning potential is under $30,000.     In my mind, make the job pay a reasonable wage and people will line up to open day cares.   This in my mind would be better than spending millions on a useless childcare registry. The millions spent include wages to an endless number of very highly paid bureaucrats that claim it's the underpaid daycare providers fault it's still not working.     Edited by loeog, 2015-11-16 19:13:19"

They have been getting rid of lots of office jobs, which is making it harder on daycares. Getting a child abuse check used to take a couple weeks and now can take 2 months. Getting things approved takes longer and longer.  
 
The only way the situation to improve is for the government to offer a higher wage enhancement for ece's. More incentive for people to start or continue working in a stressful job. The easier it is to get staff, the more spots that will open up. Also if they didn't make so many crazy requirements and restrictions, it wouldn't be as hard to open (I'm all about safety but some things are ridiculous).  
Can't increase daycare fees as it will only make it harder for families (including the staff who also pay for spots). Fundraising helps to buy supplies but is nowhere near enough to increase wages on.  
 
The government knows what it needs to do to help the situation but refuses to do it.

Here's a link to the ECE Salary Guideline from MCCA. For an ECE II, the starting wage is $38,486 for Level 1, and for Level 5 it's $48,108. Supervisors wages range from $44,407 $to $55,509. For a two year diploma, that's not bad money.  
 
http://mccahouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/MSCGS-2015-2016-005.pdf  
 

The quiet one said "Why is it a provincial responsibility and my responsibility as a taxpayer, to subsidize someone's bedroom behaviour, or life choices?     Such as having so many children that it forces both parents to go out and work to maintain a certain lifestyle, what happened to living within your means.     I never had "childcare" growing up I had a mother who stayed home and tended to the children and house (full time job) and a very hard working father.     I'm getting a bit worn down paying subsidies to others, that are 100% in this day and age preventable. "

Even if you only have 1 or 2 kids, the cost of living pretty well forces both parents to work. It's not about expecting the province to subsidize our choices to have x amount of kids, it's about the fact that the economy is out of control, and living within your means is a heck of a lot different than it was when our parents were raising us.  
 
My mom stayed at home with us as well, and they had no real issues living off one income. They made some sacrifices in some areas, but we had a nice modern home, food, clothing, we travelled, etc. The lifestyle I had as a kid with only 1 working parent is darn near impossible nowadays with only 1 income, unless it is a substantial income. We are a single income family as well and I cannot do half of the stuff for my kids that my parents did for me. I am more concerned about raising and educating my children to be productive adults one day though, not to be a drain on our system. The reality is that most families have two working parents these days, and daycares are a necessity. I would much rather put money in to good quality care and education for our children than pay for some lazy adults welfare cheque.  
 

But wouldn't it be great to attract even more passionate, kind, energetic young people to help raise our children? I can only speak of the first hand experience I have, but all my friends were attracted to teacher jobs, and subbed for a few years before landing permanent positions. They did not consider ece, as teacher seen as more of a career vs ece is a "job". Competitive wages may sway those passionate, caring individuals thinking of becoming teachers to become eces.

on-second-thought said "Here's a link to the ECE Salary Guideline from MCCA. For an ECE II, the starting wage is $38,486 for Level 1, and for Level 5 it's $48,108. Supervisors wages range from $44,407 $to $55,509. For a two year diploma, that's not bad money.     http://mccahouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/MSCGS-2015-2016-005.pdf     "

Would you spending all the money and time in education to get into a career that pays $18.50.  
 
You can pick any education track you want and get a starter job making more money than that.  
 
Even better, pick a trade.  
 
Consider the same young lady could make $26.25 as a painter.  
 
https://www.gov.mb.ca/labour/standards/docici-wagefactsheet.html

I don't know of a centre in westman who pays those wages. They are guidelines.. If the government would fund centres accordingly to pay those wages, perhaps there wouldn't be a shortage. The government has only enforced a $15.50/hr wage for trained ECE's since 2009. Hasn't increased since.