Bad timing
Quesnel Cariboo Observer
Jan 24 2007

Child-rearing is not an easy chore.

Not for mothers and fathers nor for alternative providers such as daycare agencies and babysitters.

And those seeking help and support in Quesnel are set to lose an important lifeline by the end of September.

Earlier this month, Minister of Children and Family Development Minister of State Linda Reid announced funding cuts that will see some agencies and services disappear altogether.

While current funding levels will be maintained until the end of the school year, many of the programs and agencies will be gone July 1.

One of the casualties is Quesnel Chid Care Resource and Referral Agency, whose contract with the government extends six months beyond the provincial fiscal year to September.

Between now and then, 25 per cent of its budget will be sliced and after Sept. 30, it's expected the agency will close.

Outreach programs in Hixon and Wells were cut immediately and those communities are devastated.

For 16 years, Quesnel's CCRR has played an important role in the community.

It provides free criminal checks, first aid and family child care training courses and assistance with the licensing process of the 52 child care facilities and providers registered with CCRR.

CCRR performs a home health and safety check on License Not Required providers.

CCRR offers workshops once per month and one late night a month for the convenience of providers who access toy and equipment library materials and network with their peers.

Parents use the CCRR for drop-in programs, providing a positive learning environment for children and as a network for themselves.

The toy lending library makes it affordable for parents without blowing their entire budget on toys.

It's beneficial to parents, families and children.

When CCRR closes its doors, where will they go? Who will they turn to? What will happen to those children who lose benefits from CCRR's services? Will more problems arise?

They're questions Reid obviously didn't consider.

We only hope she has another plan in mind.