Cuts like a knife
Sunshine Coast Reporter
January 19, 2007
OPINION: By Ian Jacques/Editor
EXCERPT

The provincial government is under fire after its latest round of announced funding cuts.

And no, the cuts are not to health care....

The cuts we are referring to involve child care - funding for child care operations that are the lifeline of quality group and family care services in this province and for Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRR) programs that are the public face of child care across B.C. are taking the hit.

This means that all local CCRR programs are expecting to shut down by the end of the year.

It means the loss of all the functions that the CCRR now performs, including registering daycares, child care referrals for parents and many other valuable services needed by many on the Coast.

The total funding is going to be slashed from $14 million to just $3 million by Oct. 1.

These cuts caught many by surprise, including the fine folks at Sunshine Coast Community Services. They have no idea how they are going to survive.

These cuts are totally unacceptable. There is a child care crisis in this province that Liberal government is seemingly turning a blind eye too.

Minister of State for Child Care Linda Reid is putting the blame on the federal government, and while the feds play a part in this, it's the provincial government that should be stepping up and fighting this.

If Ms. Reid can't effectively represent the interests of B.C. children, families and child care providers at the cabinet table, then maybe she should start looking for another job.

So if the government isn't going to put up a fight, then it's up us to step up and make our voices heard.

CCRR providers and community services has a rally planned for Monday night at the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons. It's an opportunity to hear more about these cuts and what effects they will have here on the Coast.

We urge everyone to attend that rally. Whether you have children or not, show your support for child care, make your concerns known to MLA Nicholas Simons and let the province know that these funding cuts are wrong.