Childcare ... kids are worth it!
The Daily News -- Prince Rupert
03 Nov 2006
By: Gary Coons, North Coast MLA

There's too many reasons to invest in child care, yet the Campbell Liberals continue to fail the families of this province.

Two reports came out in late October that show the importance of investing in child care, yet the B.C. Liberals have refused to put any resources into this important issue.

The Vancouver Board of Trade released a report saying that well-funded child care is an important factor in preventing criminal behaviour later in life. Meanwhile, a United Nations report also outlined the importance of child care. It placed Canada last among 14 industrialized nations in its commitment to child care.

New Democrats have been pressing for some action on this file, at both levels of government, for several months.

When the Harper government threw out the previous government's national child care plan, there was a telling silence from Linda Reid, the minister responsible for child care. Despite the fact that the federal plan promised $600 million to British Columbia over five years, the B.C. Liberals raised no voice in objection to the elimination of the program. Instead, they stood meekly by as the Harper government implemented their taxable $100-per-month plan, which does nothing to increase affordable child care spaces and doesn't help the people who really need it.

This is compounded by the fact that the B.C. Liberals have cut more than $40 million from child care over the past three years.

The reality, on the North Coast and everywhere in British Columbia, is that most families with children need both parents working to make ends meet. When both parents work outside the home, they need reliable, stable child care options.

The B.C. Liberals have done nothing to ensure those options are there for all British Columbians. By their inaction, they have failed families today, and have failed children for the future.

In Prince Rupert last weekend, the PR Labour Council hosted a benefit dinner and dance to highlight the concerns about affordable and accessible child care. It was a huge success as the infamous Undecideds played well into the night accenting the theme "Kids Are worth It".