Child care is necessity for many
Metrovalley Newspaper Group / Langley Times
March 16, 2007
Opinion

It appears that the Minister of State for Child Care, Linda Reid, has been able to squeeze a few more dollars out of the Liberal government coffers, and has reversed her decision to cut funding for the 45 Child Care Resource and Referral centres across this province.

That's the good news. The bad news is that while she's been able to scrounge $9 million in funding, it's still a far cry from the $14 million that was originally budgeted for these programs.

And with a 36 per cent budget cut, it's really too early yet to determine what the impact will be. Cariboo South MLA Charlie Wyse is gloating only out of one side of his mouth on this one, calling the "flip flop" a step in the right direction.

NDP MLA Claire Trevena said the Campbell government has already cut $50 million from the child care budget since 2001. Families, she said, cannot find child care spaces now and there's a freeze on new spaces.

Reid, deserves a half-a-pat on the back for her efforts to get at least some of the $14 million reinstated. But the reality for many families in 2007 is that two incomes are required to survive, and both parents need to work.

Having one parent stay at home to look after the children, for many, is simply not an option. Single parents trying to make ends meet on one salary often face a nightmare of trying to live cheque to cheque, of counting every penny.

Affordable daycare in a safe and caring environment is not a luxury item. It is a necessity, not only for the well-being and security of the child, but for the peace of mind of parents, many of whom are already struggling to cope both financially and in their personal lives....