…and it will motivate us to go the mile! Here’s a victory, but there’s much more to do!
I received this press release this afternoon:
For immediate release
Feb. 28, 2007
NDP CONGRATULATES ADVOCATES FOR FORCING CHILDCARE FLIP-FLOP
VICTORIA – New Democrat MLA Claire Trevena today commended childcare advocates for convincing the B.C. Liberal government to reverse some of their cuts to Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRR) Program.
“Thanks to continued public pressure, this government appears to be backing down from their threat to force the closure of Child Care Resource and Referral centres,” said Trevena, the Opposition Critic for Childcare. “I congratulate childcare advocates for this, won through their perseverance.”
Government officials have informed members of the childcare community that the Minister of State for Childcare Linda Reid is reversing her decision to cut the CCRR budget, and will be providing $9 million of funding on an ongoing basis. This decision comes more than six weeks after Reid informed childcare providers that their budget was going to be reduced from $14 million to $3 million, sparking widespread protests throughout B.C.
Trevena noted that many Child Care Resource and Referral centres have already been forced to start sending out lay-off notices and that this most recent development has created confusion amongst childcare providers and parents.
“This government does not have a comprehensive plan for provincial childcare,” stated Trevena, the MLA for North Island. “And we have no reason to believe that this most recent flip-flop will repair the chaos caused by this government’s mismanagement of the childcare system.”
Trevena pointed out that the overall budget for childcare is still dangerously low. “The B.C. Liberals have cut $50 million from the childcare budget since 2001. Working families cannot find childcare spaces and there’s now a freeze on any new spaces.”
Trevena noted that the CCRR budget will still be $5 million short of where it was last year, noting that “Minister Reid and the B.C. Liberals sat back and watched as the Harper government gutted federal funding.”
– 30 –
Only $446 million to go…
You might