To the Editors,
It is wonderful that newly minted candidate for the New Blue Party, Mr. Hawkins, and his spouse never had to face the agonizing choice whether they could afford to bring children into the world, and to provide enriching experiences and opportunities, including higher education and teaching community responsibility. Many people, with much to offer a child, are not so fortunate.
He thinks it unfair that childless family units in Haldimand must contribute through their taxes to Canada’s new universal $10 per day childcare program. I have heard the same complaint from people without children who must pay for education on their property taxes. I assume Mr. Hawkins’ children attend, or will attend, those schools we all pay for.
Healthy or not, everyone pays for health care, including that unsuspecting couple in Oakville targeted by Mr. Hawkins.
If one thing should put his mind at ease, it is this: a well-designed $10 a day universal childcare plan can pay for itself. This has been well established by peer-reviewed academic research both in Canada and the US.
Spoiler alert for those who will scrutinize this, and comment accordingly: economic benefits from the program flow both to the provincial and federal governments – from increased taxes and productivity, to low-income earners needing less government support.
Bob Gaunt,
Hagersville
