BCSTA demands re-instatement of childcare funding
Cariboo Press -- Houston Today
09 May 2007

The B.C. School Trustees Association (BCSTA) almost unanimously supported a School District No. 54 initiative to pressure the provincial and federal governments to re-instate child care funding.

Early this year, Minister of State for Child Care Linda Reid announced provincial monies for the Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRR) program would be cut from $14 million to $3 million.

At the S.D. 54 February meeting, trustee Shelley Browne introduced a motion that the board write a letter demanding the re-instatement of funding, adding the district's voice to a growing chorus of disenchantment.

Shortly thereafter, the minister partially reversed the cutbacks by bringing funding levels up to $9 million.

That's not good enough, Browne said.

But it's not just the $5 million shortfall in the CCRR, noted Claire Trevena, NDP critic for child care.

"The B.C. Liberals have cut $50 million from the childcare budget since 2001, " she said.

But from the beginning, the provincial government has been passing the buck.

"The province has not made any cuts to child care funding," said Dennis MacKay, Bulkley Valley-Stikine MLA saying it was Stephen Harper who ran on a platform of putting child care funds directly into the hands of parents then delivered.

"If [Shelley Browne] wants to lobby somebody, I suggest she should start in her own backyard with her MP Nathan Cullen."

Cullen isn't buying that.

"It's insincere at best," he said.

"It is only due to provincial governments not raising any problems with federal cuts to child care that allowed the Conservatives to do it."

Browne isn't buying, either. She cited the provincial governments of Ontario and Manitoba, who are beefing up their child care budgets by $25 million and $2. 8 million respectively as an example for Victoria to follow.