WINNIPEG - Manitoba Liberals say the Pallister government needs to provide a lot more details for parents and child care centers scrambling to deal with PCs decision to close schools for three weeks due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Cindy Lamoureux, Manitoba Liberal MLA for Tyndall Park says she's been getting calls from constituents who want to know why schools are closing but daycares aren't, and how "social distancing" advice will work for groups of children aged 1-12.
"Child Care Centres and parents alike are going to need better communication and more support from this PC government, and they need it right away," said Lamoureux.
Manitoba Liberals are asking the PCs to work with the Manitoba Child Care Association to immediately develop:
• A clear plan of action for child care centres, including guidelines on whether larger centres should stay open
• Clear guidelines for Child Care Centres on how to operate for this week, before school closures
• Funding to provide support for families and centres to make sure that children are cared for without parents losing too much income
"With so many families living paycheque to paycheque, the PCs can't just close schools and expect parents and child care centres to pick up the slack, especially when there is a child care waitlist with 18,000 names on it," said Dougald Lamont, MLA for St. Boniface and Leader of the Manitoba Liberal Party. "Parents need a plan from the PCs now."
On March 2, the Manitoba Liberals called for the PCs to release a Covid-19 plan. Since that time, the number of confirmed cases as well as deaths around the world has increased by 50%.
On Thursday, Manitoba Liberals also called for an emergency debate on Covid-19, but the NDP refused to let the business of the house proceed.
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