Massey Centre Strike Needs Resolution

Social services
Mr. Peter Tabuns: My question is to the Deputy Premier. Massey Centre in my riding provides support for teen mothers and their babies. It operates a daycare. Today, the daycare is closed and its parents in crisis. The workers are on strike, facing financial hardship. The centre is struggling after years of underfunding.
The Minister of Children and Youth Services has been responsive and open to the centre’s administration. For that, she has had their respect. But the minister is not in a position to put money on the table to settle this dispute.
Will you give this ministry the funds it needs so that this centre can put people back to work and put the daycare back in operation? Will you take that action?
Hon. Sandra Pupatello: To the Minister of Children and Youth Services.
Hon. Laurel C. Broten: I appreciate the member opposite’s compliment on my openness to working with this organization.
As I have had the chance to tell him in conversations that we have had about this important issue, we have received a proposal from the Massey Centre. Unfortunately, given the nature of the proposal and the fact that this is in the realm of contract and labour negotiations, at this time, we are unable, and I am unable, to interfere in this important process. I know the member opposite believes, as I do, in the collective bargaining process. It needs to be free from interference. We cannot engage in the dialogue at this time.
But my offer remains open: Separate and apart from contractual negotiations, I look forward to meeting with this organization and talking about the important work that they do in their community.
The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?
Mr. Peter Tabuns: I appreciate the concern of the minister, but I go back to the Deputy Premier. We have parents and children facing a very difficult time. We have workers who are on the street without an income. We have a situation where underfunding over the years has put people in an impossible position. That needs to be corrected.
We’re not asking for people to interfere with collective bargaining; we’re asking for help to resolve this situation. Will the Deputy Premier take the action to help the parents and the children at this centre?
Hon. Laurel C. Broten: With respect to the process, there is help from the Ministry of Labour. A conciliator is available to assist at all times with these talks.
With respect to assistance for the parents, our regional office has informed me that the Massey Centre’s Early Learning Centre, which provides child care to families, intends to continue to provide care to families served by this child care centre. The prenatal residential program will be closed for the duration of the strike, but the Massey Centre has arranged alternate accommodation for the prenatal unit residents from other young parent resource centres and other community resource centres.
I encourage both sides to work to resolve the dispute. Once the labour dispute is resolved, I look forward to hearing from the Massey Centre about their programs and working with them to continue to deliver these critically important programs in our city.