VICTORIA - The NDP is accusing the B.C. government of holding back $20 million in child care funds while waiting lists grow around the province.

Opposition critic Claire Trevena says families continue to suffer while the money sits in the bank.

Not so, says Linda Reid, the minister of state for childcare.

She says $40 million dollars was allocated in additional child-care funding over three years _ the first $20 million was handed out to child care organizations in February while $10 million will be put into the field next February and the remaining $10 million will be spent in February 2009.

Reid says the dollars are "transparent, they're going directly to child-care providers.''

She adds that the money is being held in an interest-bearing account for future disbursement and the NDP is "sensationalizing what is a pretty standard accounting practice.''

Trevena says "it seems like the minister handed out $20 million in taxpayer dollars and then just walked away, without providing any leadership or direction on how the money should be spent.''

But Reid contends the New Democrats "continue to get it wrong.''