Province missing big-picture view of needs
The Daily Courier - Kelowna
January 17, 2007
Letters --By: Kim Chernenkoff

I am writing in response to the letter from Minister Linda Reid, which appeared in The Okanagan Sunday, Jan. 14.

Minister Reid stated that the government would continue to support vulnerable children and strengthen families by retaining levels of subsidy and the supported child-care programs.

These are important programs, but the big picture of how the cuts will affect the child-care centres that care for the more than 250,000 children under the age of six in B.C. also needs to be voiced.

First and foremost is the complete closure of the Kelowna Child Care Resource and Referral Program by Oct. 1.

Caregivers such as myself depend on this program immensely. We use the program to promote our day care, to direct parents to our service, to attain training for staff members, for much needed support for staff, to purchase materials and to borrow resources which are needed. All of these services are essential to offering quality childcare.

The B.C. government website itself directs parents to consult with their local Child Care Resource and Referral Office for information on finding quality child care.

This office is also our only local link to assist caregivers and parents with subsidy questions and with assistance in filling out the necessary forms to apply for child subsidy.

The cuts to the Child Care Operating Fund will also be a huge hit for child-care centers in the province. These cuts equate to $4 per day per child for infants and toddlers, and $2 per day per child in three- to five-year-old centres.

This will be an annual loss of funding of $23,040 for a centre with 24 infants and toddlers and an $11,520 loss per year for a three-to-five centre with 24 children. These funds are essential to provide children with nutritious snacks, quality materials and to ensure that childcare centres can recruit and retain quality Early Childhood Educators.

In summary, these cuts will affect the ability for child-care providers to continue to provide quality care. And without quality spaces, where will the parents who use the subsidy and those with children needing supported child care place their children?