Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We're hanging our hopes on the wording of the detail to the budget, which says that for the first year and until the framework is signed off that the funding will be distributed on a per capita basis. We are going to keep after the federal government to find out if that means in years two, three, four and five that the funding formula could be different. I was supposed to have a conversation with Minister Dryden yesterday but, unfortunately, we didn't connect. My staff are working at setting up another conversation where we can follow through on that. Our deputies have spoken in the past week by phone and we think that we have some support for a base funding plus per capita distribution in most jurisdictions, but Ontario remains totally opposed to that. So we are going to keep pushing the issue with the federal government and with our partners across Canada. As I said, we will decide in discussion with our territorial colleagues whether or not this really is a deal that we can sign onto. Thank you.
Charles Dent on Question 499-15(3): Details Of The National Childcare Program
In the Legislative Assembly on February 28th, 2005. See this statement in context.
Further Return To Question 499-15(3): Details Of The National Childcare Program
Question 499-15(3): Details Of The National Childcare Program
Item 6: Oral Questions
February 27th, 2005
Page 1600
See context to find out what was said next.