Affordable childcare forum puts issue on Hamilton election agenda

Candidates and advocates will meet on Tuesday to discuss affordable childcare and how it factors in to the federal election.

The two will meet for a forum, which has been organized by the YWCA Hamilton, the Social Planning and Research Council and the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction.

There will be three speakers — McMaster University professor Jean Clinton; Carolyn Ferns, public policy co-ordinator at the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care, and Speak Now Hamilton's Jodi Dean.

Local candidates will also be there to talk about their parties' platforms on childcare. NDP, Liberal and Green candidates have confirmed. They'll answer questions from audience members.

Hamilton West-Ancaster Dundas NDP candidate Alex Johnstone, Hamilton Centre Liberal candidate Anne Tennier and Hamilton Mountain Green candidate Raheem Aman will take questions. Conservative MP David Sweet from Flamborough-Glanbrook is also invited. 

Judith Bishop, a childcare advocate and former school board trustee, is one of the organizers.

"Affordable, accessible and quality childcare is required for our children's well being," she said. "Federal political parties must respond to this urgent need."

The event is at the first floor auditorium at the YWCA, 75 MacNab St. S.