Quality day care a must
Cariboo Press -- Terrace Standard
29 Nov 2006

Letters -- Terry Walker and Johanna Payjack on behalf of Concerned Early Childhood Educators of Terrace

Dear Sir:

Child care (including day care, preschool and after school care) sits poised to lose an essential source of funding.

When the federal-provincial childcare agreement ends on March 31, 2007, British Columbia will lose $455 million of federal money.

What will happen to the Child Care Operating Fund (CCOF)?

The CCOF grant comprises 20-30 per cent of the monthly income to child care facilities in Terrace.

In one Terrace center, this amounts to approximately $5500 a month.

The provincial government says it will try to keep the funding going until June, but regardless, it appears the funding will be cut early next year.

What will this mean to Terrace residents? It could mean:

- 20-30 per cent increase in parent fees for child care.

- Parents will have less disposable income when child care fees rise several hundred dollars more per month.

- Parents may choose unregulated care and fewer children will receive the benefit of good group care.

- Working parents might opt to leave employment and stay home with young children.

- Parents may have to put pressure on grandparents or other relatives to provide daily child care.

Continuing low wages and absence of benefits will drive educated caregivers to seek other employment.

Prospective newcomers may be hesitant to relocate to Terrace if child care is unavailable.

Waiting lists for child care are already very long in the Terrace area.

It is unlikely that more spaces or facilities will be developed when funding is threatened and fees become unmanageable for many families.

Employers, teachers, and parents might want to consider the role child care serves in supporting Terrace parents for employment or training and the valuable care provided to Terrace's young children. You may want to let your civic, provincial and federal representatives know you are concerned about cuts to child care funding in Terrace.