These cuts hit the deepest; Those on the frontlines of childcare -- workers and parents -- say the Liberal government has let the kids down and despite new initiatives by the government, advocates say it is not even close to enough
Nelson Daily News - Trail Daily Times
April 10, 2008 
By: Hanna Wright

With only 0.2 per cent of its gross domestic product being spent on early childhood programs, Canada spends the least on childcare out of all of the developed countries.

But instead of providing the system with what it needs, which is an increased constant stream of funding, the government has recently made more cuts to a system already struggling to stay afloat.

On January 5, 2007, Minister Linda Reid announced child care program funding cuts of almost 15 per cent, valuing at a loss of $35 - $40 million.

These cuts meant a 27 per cent reduction in childcare operating funding in licensed group and family childcare services effective July 1, 2007, and a 77 per cent reduction in funding for child care resource and referral programs effective October 1, 2007.

These cuts also put a freeze on major capital funding for childcare and a cap was put on access to childcare operating funds for most new childcare spaces.

"Countries like Sweden where there is an excellent childcare system are spending about two per cent of the GDP on childcare... but here the provincial government continue to make horrendous cuts to a system that is already struggling," said Toni Hoyland, President of the Early Childhood Educators of BC (ECEBC).

The effects of these recent cuts to the childcare system are already being seen in our community.

For one thing, it has meant an increase in parent fees at most child care centres.

For early childhood educator Georgia Argyle, the cuts resulted in her leaving the field.

"I was working at the daycare at the Nelson Waldorf School when the cuts came in last year. When they took effect parent fees were increased and it was also time for the teacher's wages to go up, but they just couldn't do it because there was no money," said Argyle.

"I quit work at the daycare because I knew there would be no chance of me making any more money," she said.

For Care to Learn Children's Centre, the cuts reduced their annual budget by $15,000, forcing a hike up in parent fees to help cover the loss.

The cuts also had major effects to other arms of the Kootenay Kids Society, in particular the CCRR program ….

Nelson childcare advocate Murray Kimber is concerned that consequences from the cuts only fall on those already struggling and overburdened - the child care workers.

"You can't talk about having a childcare program and make cuts and then not expect there to be repercussions, and it's always on the backs of the kids, and the people who work in those areas because if anything they won't deny care to a child," he said.

"So we're seeing a stagnation in wages, resulting in people leaving the sector and we're seeing young people not coming into the sector - all that causes a disruption to care because if it's a childcare centre, because people don't stick around."

Where the money's coming from The B.C. child care system is funded from three separate revenue streams - predominantly parent fees support the system with further funds coming from child care subsidies and the Child Care Operating Funding Program.

In the West Kootenay, parents fees for childcare services range from $37 - $42.50 per day for children under three years of age and between $29 -$35 per day for children between age three to Kindergarten age.

Some families can apply for childcare subsidy if they meet a certain criteria.

The Child Care Operating Program is another source of funding paid to a child care provider, at the end of each month according to the number of children enrolled in a program on a per day rate per child. The amount given varies depending on both the age of the child and the type of childcare provider. For example; group childcare providers with receive $5.14 for a child under the age of 35 months for under 4 hours a day of care. Whereas a family daycare provider will receive $1.49 for a child in the same category.

New Incentives and programs

Despite the recent funding cuts, the B.C. government has announced some new incentives and programs to benefit the suffering field.

While most childcare advocates and experts are happy with a new tuition reimbursement program that was put in place in December, 2007 offering student loan forgiveness of up to $2,500 to people who work in the field, most are unhappy with a new incentive announced for qualified early childhood educators.

This new incentive offers $5,000 over two years, for early childhood educators who have been out of the field for two years, returning to the sector.

"This is just a slap in the face for early childhood educators who have stayed in the field and stuck it out despite the challenges," said Kim Adamson, Coordinator for Children First Initiatives.

Hoyland agreed: "The perspective of ECEBC on that particular incentive is that it's an insult to the people who didn't leave, and it doesn't address the reason why people left in the first place which is wages... we need something that is ongoing not one a one off," she said.

When asked how she thought this particular incentive would make those early childhood educators who remained in the field feel, Minister Reid said they would get something out of it as well.

"It was certainly individuals currently in the field who asked for additional colleges, so will their work be better because they have other folks to work with? Yes! So I actually think they will also get something through this process," she said.

Minister Reid also said that expenditure on childcare has increased from $212 million when she first became minister to $290 million this fiscal year.

… Adamson feels announcements such as these recent incentives and grants are a big problem in that they mask the real crisis the childcare system is in.

"As long as they keep giving us a little bit of money here and a little bit of money there and keep making announcements, people keep thinking... what are people complaining about? When in fact these things are just like a drop in the bucket, and as long as they keep it complex nobody can really figure it out," she said.

A word from the experts on what would help...

Many childcare advocates and experts suggested it might take a change in government to lift the B.C. childcare system out of the vicious catch 22 it is in because currently there is a lack of political will on the matter.

"The main problem... is a lack of political will and a lack of courage on the part of leaders. It's a lack of an ability to make an investment that doesn't pay off within the five year mandate of any elected government because that's really what they're interested in is seeking re-election and not making long term investments," said Kimber.

"It's also because childcare is still regarded as a women's issue and for that reason its not taken seriously at the political level. It's bandied about it's exploited come election time, but in B.C. there's no early childhood development policy - they make it up as they go, they add money willy nilly and they take money away willy nilly," he said.

Others agree that the system needs constant ongoing source of government funding being pumped into it to help deal with the issues the field is facing.

Hoyland is concerned that the networks reliability on parent fees is causing a problem and that needs to change.

"One of the frustrations is that early childhood education is one of few occupations where we are tied to a user fee in terms of our wages which locks us in to staying in this low wage area," she said

"We want government to provide operating funding to programs in a consistent ongoing way... publicly funded money that will be providing a foundation so that we can have reasonable wages, parents can have quality programs and we're not in crisis."….