EXCERPTS
Another 1,500 licensed child care spaces have been announced today by the province, this is in addition to the 1,000 spaces the government announced earlier this year. However, the province is still trying to come up with ways to make it affordable for parents.
The minister responsible, Stephanie Cadieux, understands it’s a struggle for more parents and says they’re doing the best they can with the money they have. She adds opening new spaces will relieve any stress or pressure some moms and dads may be facing. But what if they can’t afford it?
“We feel for them in that,” says Cadieux. “We’re looking to do what we can through the Early Childhood Tax Benefit, through supporting childhood educators, through supporting the creation of spaces. We’ll look to do more in the future.”
The tax benefit is $55 per month for every child under the age of six. She did not go into detail about what else the province is looking at doing, but points to things like all-day kindergarten as a short-term solution.
“This is one of the things we’re doing and as we are able to do more, we certainly will. We expect there will be another intake for child care capital in the late fall.”
Some of the communities getting these new sports will be Victoria, Prince George and Surrey due to the demand and growing population.
-reprinted from News1130