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Child care is in a state of crisis in B.C., says Nanaimo-Cowichan MP Jean Crowder.
Crowder and Cowichan-Ladysmith MLA Doug Routley held a joint press conference yesterday in Duncan to bring attention to the need for quality, affordable, licensed child care for families.
"We want the federal government to follow through on a promise committed by the previous government to introduce national child care," said Crowder.
"What we're hearing consistently is that there are lineups for child care, that people just can't get access to it."
The last of federal funds to day-care centres is paid out this month, replaced with a direct payment to parents of preschool children totaling $100 per month under the Universal Child Care Benefit.
Faced with the loss of $455 million in federal funds over the next three years, the B.C. government has cut back its subsidy to childcare centres. This means parents will pay between $40 and $80 more per month starting in July.
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The province also cut funding for the Child Care Resource and Referral program, to take effect April 1.
Crowder said the situation is already desperate, and parents are having trouble finding out whether they are eligible for the provincial child care subsidy.
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- reprinted from the Vancouver Island News Group