Mixed reaction to child allowance
Duncan News Leader and Pictorial
By Aaron Bichard
May 20 2006
EXCERPT

The $1,200 Choice in Child Care Allowance brought forward by the Conservative government might not be a lot of money, but it's fair, one local mother says, and she's happy to receive it.

Kristina Worrall has one child who is a year old and another on the way. Because she relies on the help of a friend and family members to look after her child while she and her husband work, any money the government can provide is a bonus.

"Before, I wouldn't have received anything," Worrall said. "I do shift work so conventional daycare programs don't work for us. I'm quite happy about this money."...

"This money benefits everyone, including the families who have children at daycare," Worrall said. "In my opinion, it's fair."

With 1,118 childcare spaces in the Cowichan Valley registered with the Child Care Resource and Referral Centre to accommodate approximately 10,000 children ages 0 to 12, early educator pundits in the area are overwhelmingly calling for more resources.

"One hundred dollars per month does nothing if we have no child care spaces available," Success by 6 co-ordinator Cindy Lise said. "We have limited spaces here. If we don't have space and we don't have resources, the money isn't really helping families who need to access child care."

Delta McDonell, regional co-ordinator for CCRR, agrees the funding is too little for the needs of families.

"It could be positive if it was in conjunction with a national child care program," McDonell said. "Child care costs in our community run from $500 to $850 a month on average, depending on the age of the child.

"As a family allowance it's great. What family couldn't use an extra $1,200? But there needs to be something to address the shortage of child care providers."