Coons Comments:
This is great news for those in Skidegate that really need childcare. The $280,000 in capital funding is a good start but hopefully there won’t be a struggle to find and retain qualified people to staff the extra child care spaces and to staff at levels that are acceptable to ensure quality child care exists. Hopefully additional government yearly funding is freed up to staff the new spaces.
“We have a real crisis at hand for working families and child care providers across the province. I hope that the government does not take a piecemeal approach to addressing the problem instead of investing in long term solutions,” said Coons, “We need to press for a comprehensive program of affordable, quality child care; one that has funding in place to ensure staff are retained, and trained, to do the necessary job of looking after our children.”
Minister Reid acknowledges that we all have heard quite clearly that opening new child care spaces is a priority for BC families and that projects like this highlight the commitment of the province – let’s trust that the real funding costs to ensure quality spaces will also be available into the future.
NEWS RELEASE
June 2, 2008
Ministry of Children and Family Development
SKIDEGATE – A $280,000 contribution from the provincial government will help the Skidegate Band Council open of a new infant and toddler child-care centre, Minister of State for Child Care Linda Reid announced today.
“We have heard quite clearly that opening new child-care spaces is a priority for B.C. families,” said Reid. “This project highlights the commitment of both the Province and Skidegate Band Council to provide families with more options and children with safe, nurturing opportunities outside the home.”
The funding will create 12 new child-care spaces in the community, expected to open in September 2009.
“This funding will allow us to make a wonderful addition to our child-care, preschool and parent and tot programs,” said Rachel West, supervisor of the Skidegate Band Council child-care programs. “With the new centre, we’ll have child-care services available for all age groups, from birth to age 12.”
British Columbia’s major capital fund for child care was expanded in fall 2007 to make $12.5 million available for child-care providers to create new licensed spaces. The fund will result in more than 2,200 additional child-care spaces across the province by 2010.
Since 2001, the B.C. government has provided capital funds to support the creation of more than 5,500 new licensed child-care spaces. Assisting with the costs of new child care construction is part of the range of programs and services available to support child-care options in British Columbia. Budget 2008 increased the amount the Province invests in these services to nearly $300 million this year.
For more information, please visit www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/childcare.
-30-