Finance Minister Carole Taylor has introduced a budget that restores spending for the Ministry of Children and Family Development that was cut four years ago. Taylor says the government will spend $421 million over the next four years to improve child protection services.
BUDGET COMMENTS:
Ask the Experts: Officials from unions and business react to the provincial budget
The Vancouver Sun, 22 Feb 2006
EXCERPT
…. JIM SINCLAIR, PRESIDENT OF THE B.C. FEDERATION OF LABOUR:
“Like a lot of British Columbians, we were looking at this budget to see how it would help us. I think it is fair to say that if you live in Point Grey and you own your own house and you send your kids to private school and you want to own a Mercedes-Benz and you own mining shares, you’re doing well in this budget. If you live in Kamloops and you’re struggling to make ends meet and your kids are in the public system and you want to send them off to college and you want a space in a childcare centre, it’s not a good budget for you.” …
GEORGE HEYMAN, PRESIDENT OF THE B.C. GOVERNMENT AND SERVICE EMPLOYEES’ UNION
“The finance minister admitted today that she has no new money targeted for income assistance, when everybody knows that the single clearest determinant about the future of a kid’s development and their health and their ability to reach their full potential and be a productive member of society, is that they don’t live in poverty in their formative years. It is not the fault of children if their families are poor, and this minister simply doesn’t seem to get that.” …
SARAH MACINTYRE, B.C. DIRECTOR OF THE CANADIAN TAXPAYERS FEDERATION:
“Frankly, this government is headed in the wrong direction. Instead of trying to improve competitiveness of the tax system by simplifying, lowering and flattening tax rates, the province has taken a policy of particulars approach, handing out tax credits to specific industries, groups and leaving most taxpayers in the dust.”
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Jenny Kwan, NDP Opposition’s finance critic
Faceoff: Budget 2006: The Opposition: Liberals ignore the real challenges
The Vancouver Sun
22 Feb 2006
Editorial
EXCERPT
“The government did not put forward a coherent plan to address child-care demands or rising child poverty and homelessness rates. This budget still assumes Stephen Harper will fund the national child-care plan. We know that won’t happen, but there is no replacement.”
Government pledges $421m to help young people: Funds will go to programs for those with special needs, mental-health problems, disabilities and addictions
The Vancouver Sun
22 Feb 2006 [Page: A4 ]
Janet Steffenhagen
EXCERPT
…. The $36 million for special needs will include an expansion of the infant development program, which serves children from birth to three who have developmental delays, and more support services that allow special-needs children to be included in regular child care….