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Locals weigh in on day care debate

A local daycare operator is defending Iris Evans after the Alberta finance minister made remarks that have been interpreted as a criticism of parents who put their children in day care.

A local daycare operator is defending Iris Evans after the Alberta finance minister made remarks that have been interpreted as a criticism of parents who put their children in day care.

Following a speech to the Economic Club of Canada in Toronto Wednesday, Evans answered a question by speaking about the importance of teaching children about finances. She also said that good parenting means sacrificing income to stay at home while kids are young as her own children have done.

“They’ve understood perfectly well that when you’re raising children, you don’t both go off to work and leave them for somebody else to raise,” Evans said. “This is not a statement against day care. It’s a statement about their belief in the importance of raising children properly.”

The comment stirred up a firestorm of negative reaction but also many supportive comments to online forums and radio call-in shows.

Tricia Cunningham of Sigis Childcare Society in St. Albert thinks it was a strange comment given that, as children’s services minister, Evans ushered in provincial accreditation of day cares, a move that has led to better standards of care.

“She’s the reason why child care has totally been improved,” Cunningham said.

“Do I think it was an okay comment? No. I think people should have choices whether they want to go to work.”

“I think she just stuck her foot in her mouth. She made a mistake.”

Michelle Radey of St. Albert Daycare said facilities like hers offer some benefits that children can’t always get at home. These include staff trained in early childhood development, who can detect signs of developmental delays, and the ability to interact with other children.

“The family is ultimately the person raising them. We’re there to support them,” she said.

“Are we helping them with the child-rearing kinds of things like toilet-training and teaching them manners … absolutely. But every community member should be doing the same thing.”

Evans issued a public statement Thursday saying that her references to parenting were in response to a question about financial literacy.

“My intent was to point out that understanding money and finances starts at home, not in the schools. And I was specifically pointing out that my three sons have done a better job than I had in passing this on,” the statement said.

“I understand some people were offended by some of what I said. I did not intend to suggest there is only one way to raise a child. Having worked for most of my adult life while raising kids, I understand no situation is the same and that parents have to make difficult choices that are in the best interests of their children, and I applaud them for making these choices.”

Alberta Liberal leader David Swann said Evans is trying to make it appear that her original words were misinterpreted.

“I don’t think Albertans have misinterpreted her. She was lecturing Albertans on the right way to parent,” he said.

“Lecturing people about whether they should stay home or work also begs the question how much she’s in touch with the economic realities of many Albertans today.”

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