McGuinty promises to start up full-day kindergarten after seven years delay

QUEEN’S PARK – Premier Dalton McGuinty was up to his old tricks this week as he dusted off another Liberal campaign promise from 2003, according to the Canadian Press, to provide full-day learning for four and five year-olds in Ontario schools.

However, Niagara West-Glanbrook MPP Tim Hudak warned parents not to get their hopes up just yet, as the Premier’s promise to provide full-day kindergarten – one of dozens of broken promises he and his Liberal colleagues used to win the trust of voters in 2003 – is still years away from being implemented, if at all.

Following the announcement this week, Premier McGuinty said he’d be surprised if the funding his government is planning on allocating to the program in 2010 and 2011 will be enough.

“By the Premier’s own admission, this initiative will not receive adequate funding in the current mandate,” Hudak said. “I won’t be surprised to see full-day kindergarten popping up as a Liberal campaign promise for a third time in 2011.”

"This sounds like the same old Dalton McGuinty," Hudak said. "Make a promise, hope the people of Ontario forget about it before the next election, and then polish it up and present it as a new promise in the next campaign."