Budget Reaction: We asked four B.C. residents what they like -- and don't like -- in the Tories' new federal budget. As with everything else in politics, opinions on the budget vary widely.
The Province
May 3, 2006
By: Susan Lazaruk and Jack Keating
EXCERPT:

THE CALDWELLS
Mark and Erin Caldwell of Port Coquitlam have two children, Joshua, 5, and Lucy, 2 1/2. He's a sales rep and she teaches Grade 7 French immersion. Erin shared her views on the budget:

On the $1,200 a year child-care allowance: "I think it's a good start. I work part time and my parents watch the children one day a week and a neighbour who has an unlicensed daycare watches them the other day.

THE UNSWORTHS
Simone and Dominic Unsworth live in Penticton, where he works as a draftsman and she's a dental assistant currently on maternity leave. They have two children, aged three and three months. Simone offered her views on yesterday's budget.

On the taxable $100-a-month allowance for children under age six: "The child tax credit for $1,200 a year that we get isn't that helpful. It's obviously helpful compared to nothing. But when daycare is over $500 a month per child, it's not really going to help me very much.

"If I go back to work I will have to work at least two days a week to cover daycare . . . $100 a month toward myself to stay home, it's kind of insulting."..

JASON BAINS
Jason Bains, 22, operates two daycare centres in Richmond. He gave a thumbs down to the budget.

He commented on the Conservatives' plan to scrap the Liberal daycare plan and replace it with the $1,200 annual allowance:

"One hundred dollars a month for child care is nothing for the parents," said Bains.

He noted that his daycares charges parents $800 per month per child.

"The $100 is not that much of a help. And on top of that, it's taxable."

"All the parents I talked to all preferred the Liberal's program.

"I think the Liberal plan for child care was much better. The five-year plan was geared toward a lot of spaces."

"The main concern I heard from the parents was Stephen Harper and the Conservatives aren't really taking child care as seriously as the Liberals were."