CUTS TO CHILD CARE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 28, 2007
CAMPBELL GOVERNMENT BACKPEDALS ON SIZE OF CUTS TO CHILD CARE
But turmoil continues as child care services close across BC Parents and child care supporters are claiming a partial victory since the BC government has indicated it will restore some child care funding, following weeks of province-wide community protests against cuts to child care services.

However, families are still being left out in the cold for lack of available or affordable child care spaces. In Vancouver today, families are lining up to camp overnight at Riley Park Community Centre - in hopes of registering their children for a two-day a week pre-school space.

The government announced in January that it was cutting Child Care Resource and Referral service budgets by almost 80-percent. It also ordered all 45 CCRR centres in BC to close by September 30, 2007. At least 13 agencies have already issued layoff notices, and some, including Richmond's, have already closed their doors. Dawson Creek's Berry Patch daycare has also closed, leaving 42 local families without child care services. Child care providers say more child care centres will close if the province does not immediately restore cuts to operating funds. At other centres, parent fees will be hiked, but the government is not increasing subsidy rates to match. "This government's announcement that it is going to restore $9-million, a portion of the funding cut for child care resource and referral services, while welcome - comes without notice or consultation. It's too little, too late," says Susan Harney, president of the Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC.

"What working families need is to have funding fully restored, and an early childhood development plan put in place that has a quality child care system as its cornerstone."

"This government continues to recklessly underfund public child care services," charges George Heyman, president of the BC Government and Service Employees' Union. The Campbell government has slashed child care funding by $50-million annually since 2002.

"The child care community has been thrown into turmoil and confusion, and services for families are in tatters following this government's two-steps-back, one-step-forward approach to child care."

"Forty-four percent of BC employers are reporting a labour shortage. It's time for this government to stop its assault on working families who need reliable quality child care so they can go to work, support their families and contribute to BC's economy."

The "Child Care - Let's Make It Happen" campaign is an initiative of the
Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC and the BC Government and Service Employees' Union.

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Child Care: Let's Make It Happen!
Research, Campaigns and Communications
(604)291-9611/1-800-663-1674
makechildcarehappen@bcgeu.ca