Approximately 100 childcare workers, parents, babies and toddlers took to Cleveland Ave. sidewalks Tuesday (Feb. 13) to protest provincial cuts to childcare that are expected to significantly impact daycare wait lists, parent fees and care quality.
"It's going to be huge," said single mother Kelly Pietila, a part-time worker and student receiving support from the province. "I don't know what I'll do."
The protest took place simultaneously in several municipalities throughout the province during the B.C. Liberal's throne speech where Premier Gordon Campbell will announce the government's agenda for the coming year.
On January 5, B.C. Minister of State for Child Care Linda Reid announced that federal cuts to childcare and early childhood education have forced a provincial cut of $35 to $40 million to childcare programs.
The cuts effectively end childcare referral resource programs and renders new childcare workers ineligible for operating grants, both of which will mean higher parent fees, longer wait lists and reduced quality of care, since the resource programs ensured daycares were compliant with acceptable childcare practices. The referral program also helps parents find superior and available childcare.
Early Childhood Education supporters gathered at the Sea to Sky Hotel from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday (Feb. 13) to listen to a panel of experts describe how the cuts will decimate a crucial resource referral program and reduce quality and quantity of care. Panel speakers urged supporters to pressure local, provincial and federal politicians to reinstate early childhood education funding.
Parents and workers said the cuts will eliminate criminal background checks for non-licensed care providers, and will end drop-in programs, effectively ensuring a growing number of latchkey kids.
A parent at the forum also said she had attempted to find childcare on her own when she first arrived to Squamish and was discouraged by what she found until she accessed the referral program.
Protestor and parent Richard Dietel said the current $40 a day fee is already a burden to many parents who end up working a large portion of the day simply to pay for daycare.
"It isn't good for families," said Dietel. "It's just wrong to sacrifice existing support for a misguided tax break to big business."
The federal government's new $100 a month taxable family allowance does little to help the mounting daycare fees, numerous protestors said.
Mayor Ian Sutherland was also at the rally to protest federal and provincial cuts. "They both have surpluses and this is one thing where they should step up," he said.
Sea to Sky Community Services early childhood education director Suzie Soman said the organization invited MLA Joan McIntyre to the protest the forum, but didn't receive a response.
McIntyre said in a phone interview Wednesday (Feb. 14) that the province has put millions more into early childcare and education and pointed to the federal cuts as the culprit for lost programs.
"What we're trying to deal with is a very unfortunate withdrawal of almost half a billion dollars from the federal government," she said. "It's been very difficult."
McIntyre said B.C. has added $50 million to two early education programs, Ready, Set, Learn and Early Program Strong Start. She said the province has committed to opening 80 Strong Start centres and she would follow-up on opportunities for the corridor.
McIntyre also said the province is well aware that early childhood education paves the way for a healthier and brighter future, and the province is attempting to find ways to replace the information provided to parents through the referral programs.
