'Children deserve better': Tuesday afternoon rally attracts crowd concerned about cuts to childcare
Cowichan Valley Citizen
07 Feb 2007
By: Andrea Rondeau

"I really think the children deserve better than what they're getting," said one single mom Tuesday afternoon as she addressed a crowd of about 100 people gathered in City Square in Duncan to protest cuts the provincial and federal governments have made to childcare funding since Christmas.

Her sentiments were echoed by other parents, early childcare educators and local politicians who attended the rally to add their voices to the anger and dismay over the more than $100,000 in lost funding that is threatening to close daycare doors and raise fees for childcare in the Cowichan Valley.

The province, through Minister of State for Childcare Linda Reid, has blamed the cuts on the federal Conservative government's cancellation of a five-year joint funding program that began in 2005, a plan that was the brainchild of the former federal Liberal government.

However childcare advocates say the province, with its $2.1-billion surplus, can afford to continue with funding....

Duncan Mayor Phil Kent opened the rally under placards proclaiming Feb. 6, the anniversary of Stephen Harper becoming Prime Minister, a "black day for childcare."

Childcare is a key issue of community health, Kent told the crowd. In December his council wrote the federal government, he said, expressing their "dismay" over the cancellation of their agreement with B.C.

"We're also dismayed with the provincial government's response,"Kent said.

"We'll hopefully prevail in this fight."

"I really think this service is incredibly important," agreed North Cowichan Mayor Jon Lefebure.

The federal Conservative plan, which is to directly pay parents a stipend per child, per month, doesn't adequately address childcare needs, he said.

Federal Liberal party representative Brian Scott said no one can afford quality childcare with what the Conservatives are offering.

He called early learning and childcare "key to our children's success." "Children are our future, the most wonderful asset that our community has,"

concurred Mary Dolan of the Growing Together Childcare Centre. The current state of childcare is "not good enough," she said, and Canada needs a national childcare system.

"It's time for our voices to be heard," said Gilles Villeneuve, speaking for Cowichan-Ladysmith MLA Doug Routley. Another rally is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 13, and childcare advocates are urging everyone to join in letter and postcard campaigns to flood provincial and federal offices.