Daycare protests planned
Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Times and Vancouver Sun
January 30, 2007
EXCERPT

Local child care providers are getting set to drop their finger paints for placards, put away silly putty in exchange for banners. On Feb. 6 from 6:30 to 8 a.m. child care providers will be protesting the provincial and federal cuts to child care programming, hosting a community awareness walk to bring attention to recent announced childcare funding cutbacks....

As a result of the funding cut, various child care programs, including all of the province's child care resource and referral centres, would be clawed back to the bare minimum, and eventually closed.

Child care providers who use the services of the local CCRR are rallying to support the centre, and to pressure government to continue funding. CCRR program supervisor Jo-Anne MacKenzie said the time of community awareness walk was chosen because it allows more providers to attend, but some, she added have chosen to close down for the day.

All are invited to attend the awareness walk, which will begin at the intersection of Lougheed Highway and 200 Street.

Later that evening, Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows NDP MLA Michael Sather is organizing a community forum, though time and place have yet to be determined.

On Saturday, child care providers are rallying out front of Maple Ridge-Mission Liberal MLA Randy Hawes' office on First Avenue in Mission, beginning at 1 p.m.

A provincewide day of protest is being planned for later in the month.