Kids used as 'pawns,' Coates says
The Surrey Leader
Feb 2, 2007

The province is using "children as pawns in constitutional wrangling," according to the head of early childhood development for the Surrey School District.

Federal funding changes for the provinces have resulted in Victoria chopping support for key areas of child care.

Penny Coates, co-ordinator for the district's Early Childhood Development, Learning and Care, estimates "conservatively" the funding cuts in this city will top $1 million.

She noted while it's a relatively small part of the B.C. budget, the impact will be profound.

One of her biggest concerns is an end to plans of child care service expansion.

"The vacancy rate is so low as to be almost uncountable," Coates said Wednesday. "This cutback is a real throw, because we were hoping to do some expansion... when they cap this money, it completely shuts down our ability to open up new spaces."

Surrey will be particularly hard hit because of its rapid growth of young families, she said.

"Surrey has one of the one of the lowest ratios of licensed spaces to children anywhere in the country," Coates said.

"If you have (financial) resources then you have choices. If you have no resources, then you're in tears on my telephone, praying I have a solution for you - and I don't."