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Reaction to the Provincial Budget 2009
Child care crisis not a priority for this government
PRESS RELEASE: Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC
February 17, 2009
The Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC is disappointed that once again the provincial government has failed to recognize the importance of child care as an integral part of a comprehensive economic stimulus package. “The decision of this government to fail to respond to the crisis in child care in BC demonstrates its lack of support for working families,” says Susan Harney, Chairperson of CCCABC. While the government claims to be investing in generating new jobs, how can families work or access training opportunities when they can’t access child care for their children?
“While the budget recognizes that families are worried about paying their bills and worried about their children and the future of their families, nothing in this budget addresses the high fees for child care or long wait lists,” Harney says. “When will this government recognize that spending on infrastructure should include the development of a child care system, a legacy that would provide critical supports to families for generations?”
B.C. families currently pay some of the highest fees for child care services in the world according to a recent United Nations report. And a lack of spaces mean that only about 15% of BC’s young children can access it. This budget does nothing for the families who are currently on wait lists of up to 2 years.
While the budget does provide for a $25 million dollar increase to subsidies for low income families, child care advocates maintain that subsidies alone will only continue to provide band aid solutions. Economic supports for families are needed and welcomed but they do not create a child care system nor address the crisis. High parent fees mean the subsidy amounts are often insufficient. “When families have to find an additional $300 or $400 dollars a month from an already stretched low income to top up subsidy rates it’s just impossible to do,” says Harney.
Parents across BC need government to invest in a child care system that would see parent fees reduced or capped, the creation of new community owned spaces and increases to wages for early childhood educators.
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Talk is Cheap - Actions Tell the Real Story
BC Assn Social Workers
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Budget ignores true depth of economic crisis and hardship
BC Federation of Labour
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Budget puts services under pressure
BCGEU
Victoria (19 Feb. 2009) - The 2009 B.C. budget will put important public services and front line staff under significant pressure next year, says the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE).
"Fewer front line staff will face more work load pressures to provide important services to the public at a time when British Columbians will need to rely on those services even more to weather the economic downturn," says BCGEU president Darryl Walker.
Walker says a review of the budget indicates that funding cuts lie ahead in many areas, including community development, … labour and citizens services, finance, highways maintenance, … and legal aid - "just to name a few."
Other programs like child and family development, women's services, corrections and forest management will receive status quo funding. Discounted for inflation, however, the result will be a net funding reduction.
Walker says it will take time to work through ministry budget allocations in detail to determine the full impact on front line workers. While the overall number of jobs on a full-time equivalent basis remains relatively unchanged, some ministries face sizeable reductions in positions.
Walker says the province had financial room — given its relatively small projected deficit — to invest in more money in B.C.'s social infrastructure.
"I'm discouraged by the Campbell government's failure to make significant new investments in child care and home support to help meet the urgent needs of B.C. families," he adds.
"The tiny new subsidy for child care does nothing to address the child care crisis in B.C. especially high parent fees and long wait lists." ….
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B.C. School Trustees' Association: Vancouver Sun
Feb 18, 2009
Connie Denesiuk, president of the B.C. School Trustees' Association, agreed the increase for 2009-10 won't cover rising costs, but said she was pleased to see any additional funds.
"Given the economic climate . . . we're pleased that education funding will see a modest increase," Denesiuk said. "We also recognize, however, that inflationary costs and collective agreement costs will add pressures to school boards."
Those pressures will make it difficult for some boards of education to balance their budgets, she said….
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BC Liberal budget fails to invest in children
BCTF
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Burnaby Teachers' Association
“President Marianne Neill says the provincial government gave lip service to the idea of supporting education, but little more. …." Then, the budget was devastating for education, casting doubt on the sincerity of even the little that was said in the speech. An increase that is less than inflation means a decrease in real funding."
"Increases must match increased costs for all the services and goods required to maintain the system at its current level. It is not enough just to increase spending." Neill says teachers are "struggling to meet students' needs with fewer and fewer resources."
"It is very short-sighted to under fund (education and health) even in difficult times. We all know that long-term losses result from short-term saving in these areas." [Burnaby Now, February 21, 2009]
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B.C. needs a plan to fight a nasty recession
CCPA
“Expanding B.C.'s social infrastructure should also be on the table, including early learning and child care, and educational investments given that large numbers of young people will go back to school in a downturn. …. Budgets are about the choices we make as a society. In the face of a recession that will have negative impacts for communities and families across the province, we need a government committed to action, and to ensuring that no British Columbians are left out in the cold.”
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Budget 09 fails to recognize recession realities
CUPE
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Status quo budget represents lost opportunities
HEU
“This is a time when we should be making significant investments in social infrastructure,” adds Darcy.
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“As the school population decreases in districts province-wide, the money that is being saved is being put into other initiatives, for example, StrongStart Centres and neighbourhoods of learning, as opposed to increases in the per-student funding.”
[Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Times, February 20, 2009, Maria Rantanen]
"…the government appears to have turned its back on other forms of stimulus that doesn't involve paving or building bridges."
[Paul Willcocks, Nelson Daily News, February 18, 2009]
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