Like taking candy from a baby
Cariboo Press -- Revelstoke Times Review
24 Jan 2007
Opinion

What are those BC Liberals thinking? Cutting the Child Care Resource Referral program so they can save a measly $6 million?

Come on! That's like taking candy from a baby -- literally.

The Revelstoke Child Care Resource Referral Program's Linda Chell is upset by the announcement from Child Care Minister Linda Reid who made it sound in a letter published in The Times Review on Jan. 17 as though it was just a reduction. Well, I guess the elimination of funding is actually a reduction, isn't it?

What I understand the Liberals want to replace the existing program with is a so-called provincial or regional service that may use a call centre or Websites. I can just see working families spending time on the Internet can't you? As for the call centre I wonder if it actually would be here in B.C. If the Liberals are in a stingy mood perhaps they'll flog it to an India-based call centre service.

CCRR's throughout the province have recommended that the government keep their services open and available to the people they serve but that's not a message anyone in Victoria apparently wants to hear.

According to Chell, plans are being laid elsewhere in B.C. for a stroller protest on Feb. 6. Judging by the snow here that's impractical -- at least on that date -- so there may be a protest here in March.

For a province that is doing so well economically, cutting this program doesn't make any sense at all. Child care is, in my view at least, an essential service. It leads to the development of healthy curious and pro-social kids and helps parents make a better contribution to the economy.

This is not an issue that is going to disappear from the radar screen.