Child care campus reels in funding
Cariboo Press -- Penticton Western
13 Apr 2007

The federal government is not doing enough to create child care space, said B.C.'s minister of state for child care, who accused the Conservatives of being untrustworthy.

"You can't build with certainty if you don't have confidence in your partner, " said Linda Reid.

She visited Penticton....

"Frankly, every province is agitated," said Reid....

Conservatives say their program offers parents more choice in how they spend their money.

"But that has not resulted in the creation of a single new space," said Reid, claiming that $100 buys two days of day care.

The federal government is also shortchanging British Columbians, she added.

While the province will receive about $32 million in new child care funding through the 2007 budget, that is only one-fifth of what it would have received under the previous agreement, she said.

This has made it "hugely problematic" for the province to maintain and expand child care programs, said Reid....

Lyster said child care is "essential" to help citizens stay employed and further their education.