Children, families left behind by budget
Paul Willcocks Blog
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 08, 2009

Three years ago, then finance minister Carole Taylor said the provincial budget was “for the little ones.”

The Liberal government’s cost-cutting and mismanagement of support for children and families had just been set out in Ted Hughes’ report.

Children would now be the focus, said Taylor.

But this is a short-attention span government. It’s no different when it comes to children in B.C.

The new budget freezes the children and families ministry budget for this year — and the next two years. ….

The ministry plans to fund fewer child care spaces this year than it did last year, with no expansion forecast for the next two years. Bad news for parents on long waiting lists for care (although full-day kindergarten might help some)…