The provincial New Democrats plan to offer British Columbians a clear choice regarding party priorities in 2008 when they "put a Child Care Program in front of the people," says MLA Norm Macdonald.

"In the next election there will be a child-care program put in front of the people of British Columbia," he said in a year-end interview.

"Look at a province like Quebec. Quebec has a child-care program in effect that is affordable and accessible to most families as a result you have much greater participation in the work force and you have quality child care where workers are paid appropriate wages to care for those people who are most precious to us -- our children. It's easy to do if you have a commitment."

In a wide-ranging interview that harkened back to the issues of 2007 and looked ahead to the political landscape of 2008, Macdonald, who is the Official Opposition's Critic for Tourism, Sports and the Arts, said …..Health care, child care and social policy issues were first and foremost on the New Democrats' agenda….

"In Question Period you can highlight their missteps. Linda Reid got caught on a misstep (last January) when she tried to cut the Child Care resource and referral Program and they got caught on a misstep over booster seats."

The booster seat episode involved the government sending complimentary booster seats to Liberal MLAs for distribution to constituents. None of the seats were sent to Opposition MLAs to give to their constituents.

"It was ridiculous," Macdonald said.

He said the government seems to "want the appearance of doing something on child care without actually doing anything."

It's quick to trumpet the achievements of BC students on international tests but the government attempts to cut the CCRR program funding, its failure to address the province's housing problems and the recent revelation that -- for the fourth year in a row -- BC has the most child poverty in Canada underscores Macdonald's conviction that the BC Liberals don't care about children.

"Beyond just the moral arguments that these are the people who should be most precious to us, if you're not making investments in children when they're young there will be a tremendous cost that will be borne later on," he said.

Not only are families kept poor but children "lose the opportunity to blossom into the kind of people they could be."

"It makes no sense to waste that potential," Macdonald said.

As far as 2008 is concerned, Macdonald says child care and seniors' care will continue to be major issues in 2008.

He also said that he and the rest of the NDP's Rural Caucus would like to ensure that "there's a connection between the wealth that rural areas generate and the services they get."

"We need to put forward a platform for that," he said. "Rural people should have a say on how forest lands are used, on independent power projects and a whole host of other issues."