Child care oversights have critics’ attention.

The Liberal budget announced on Tuesday is missing one very important group of citizens say critics. As Child care gets put on the back burner as part of a federal provincial spat over funding, concerned groups are suggesting that the province needs to reassess its position and take some pro active action to ensure quality child care is available to all British Columbians.

They’re concerns were outlined in the Thursday edition of the Daily News.

LACK OF CHILD CARE ‘VISION’ SLAMMED BY CRITICS
By James Vassallo
The Daily News
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Page one and three

While the provincial budget is being applauded for tax cuts and millions new housing, critics are blasting the government for doing it on the back of child care services.

“While it’s good to see increases (to social services) rather than cuts, the tax cuts show that the government can afford to improve the services that British Columbians rely on,’ said Ken Davidson, CUPE B. C. vice-president.

“It’s not good enough to simply blame the federal government for child care cuts. The fact is that we can afford child care, British Columbian families need child care, but it’s not a priority for the Liberals.

North Coast MLA Gary Coons told the B. C. Legislature on Tuesday that the province’s handling of child care challenges was “negligent” and reflects a government that’s both “irresponsible and lacking in vision.”

The failure of the premier and the Liberals to acknowledge child care illustrates the government’s complete irresponsibility and lack of vision when it comes to challenges facing B. C. families.” Coons told the Legislature in response to the budget.

”B. C. was the only province in Canada that didn’t make an effort to negotiate with the federal government to maintain funding, and B. C is the only province in Canada to bring in cuts as a result.

“That’s shameful.”

Coons spoke of the effects the cuts will have across the Northwest if the Berry Patch closes and also of the impact closing the Queen Charlotte Child Care Resource and Referral Centre will have on the islands. He also attacked the government for failing to deal with the critical shortage of child care spaces in Prince Rupert.

“The end result of this government’s ignoring of British Columbians will be no new spaces for Prince Rupert and an explosion of illegal child care situations, once again putting children at risk,” he said. “This type of Liberal neglect is one reason why British Columbia still has the highest child poverty rate in Canada, despite high commodity prices and increased government revenues.”

On Jan. 5, Child Care Resource and Referral centres were cut 77 per cent, effectively closing most of them.

There is talk of regional centres being opened in their place.

Grants that offer operating costs for licensed day care facilities were also cut 27 per cent. The province blames the Government of Canada for cancelling provincial-federal child care agreements.

In lieu of those agreements, parents were individually sent funds.