Daycare to cost more if funding is cut
Cariboo Press / Invermere Valley Echo
15 Nov 2006

On Nov. 9, child caregivers in Invermere held a forum to discuss the discontinued government funding for child care in the community.

Currently, the operational child care grant that subsidizes daycare in Invermere will no longer be granted as of March 2007.

Arlee Romane, early childhood educator, said this will eliminate existing daycare spaces and increase fees.

"It will make existing spaces more expensive for parents," said Romane, who operates the Windermere Valley Child Care Society, located in the old high school building.

The community has been receiving the grant for the past three years, but recent government reforms want to discontinue funding in favour of providing parents $100 per month per child for daycare costs.

"Our fees will go up way more than $100 a month," said Romane, of what will happen once the funding is cut off.

Child care practitioners are looking at the possibility of hosting a forum with Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald regarding the issue as well as sending letters to parents in the community currently utilizing child care services and informing them of the situation.

Romane also urges parents to write letters to their local government representatives.

"They need to hear from the parents," she stated.

Romane also addressed that raising a family in an expensive community results in both parents usually having to work, thus there is a great need for daycare services in the valley.

"It's just going to get more difficult for parents," said Romane.