News Release May 6 2009
At recent all candidates’ debates, Richmond NDP candidates have raised the issue of child care in BC. I would like to take a moment to set the record straight.
The BC Liberal record is defined by historic levels of funding, new capital construction, and successful community partnerships. All of these initiatives are about creating choice for parents, supporting child care providers, and increasing the number of early childhood educators.
This year’s child care budget will reach $300 million – an increase of 42 per cent since 2001. Almost half of the budget goes to support families with child care subsidies. In some instances, the subsidy program will cover the entire portion of a parent fee.
We have overseen the largest capital program - $35 million since 2001 – in the history of the Province. Over 6,500 spaces have been created, while the number of licensed child care spaces receiving operating subsidies has risen to 90,000 – double the number when Carole James was Director of Child Care Policy in 1999.
Beginning in 2005, we entered into successful partnerships with local organizations, creating community hubs that co-locate family focused services, and built child care centres in new BC Housing projects. These social housing developments locate services for families where they need them most – in their local neighbourhood.
To address the need to recruit, retain, and assist in professional development for early childhood educators, we have created two new incentive programs and deposited $4.5 million with the VanCity Community Foundation.
In Richmond, we have received provincial funding for three new child care projects. In 2008, Alderwood House and Fine Art Montessori School opened their doors and a 6,000 square foot centre will open in the new Alexandra Gardens neighbourhood in the months to come.
When compared with our record, the NDP’s is one of all talk and no action. This is highlighted by a recent community consultation tour entitled Raising BC, which disappeared without a trace and produced no new policies. Their party platform provides an additional $25 million for child care, but is silent on where the funding will come from and how it will be spent.
The BC Liberals have a proven track record. In fact, this spring we increased the child care subsidy budget by $25 million over three years providing families access to licensed, quality child care. The choice on May 12th is clear. Vote BC Liberal and keep BC families strong.
