MLA defends baby bonus
Cariboo Press -- Vernon Morning Star
08 Nov 2006

Okanagan Vernon MLA Tom Christensen is defending $1,000 for every new baby born in B.C. although critics believe it distracts from the issues of poverty and education.

The B.C. Government and Service Employees Union has suggested the province should place more emphasis on early childhood education and anti-poverty than providing $1,000 to every new baby for post- secondary education. Christensen disagrees with the union's stance.

"The $1,000 credit is geared towards long-term education goals and to get parents thinking about those long-term goals and it's not aligned with early childhood development at all," said Christensen, who is the child and families minister.

"We're spending more on early childhood development than ever before. We invest in early childhood education improvements and we're making those investments."

The BCGEU describes the $1,000 credit as an interesting proposal.

"For such a plan to really pay off 18 or so years down the road in a child's life, they need to get the best start possible in their early years," said George Heyman, union president, in a release.

"And that means getting the opportunity to receive a healthy start in life that includes quality early learning and care. That's just not happening in B.C. today. There is a shortage of quality child care spaces and not enough qualified early childhood educators."

Heyman also takes a swing at the government over children in poverty.

"Kids need proper nutrition to ensure the best brain development. Good nutrition is difficult for many families to provide, especially the 49 percent of single mothers in B.C. who live in poverty," he said in the release.

However, Christensen dismisses the union's concerns.

"A strong economy is key to people bringing themselves out of poverty and we're looking at how other issues around poverty can be addressed," said Christensen, referring to the government's affordable housing policy.

"This government has also done more to relieve the tax burden on low-income residents."