The B.C. Chamber of Commerce unanimously passed a child care resolution brought forward by the Trail and District and Prince George chapters at the organization’s annual meeting. The introduction to the resolution begins with a historic (for business) recognition that:

“Quality child care is no longer just a social issue; the business community of B.C. now views child care as one of the key factors in addressing the labour shortage in B.C. The ability to recruit and retain workers in all industry sectors is underpinned with a worker’s ability to secure quality child care that meets their needs,” the resolution says.

“A comprehensive strategic plan for the child care system in B.C. is critical to staying competitive in today’s global economy.”

On June 1, 2007 the following press release was released.  I am not totally sure where the release came from as it was just forwarded to me like this, however I think it is safe to assume that it probably came from the New Democrat Childcare Critic Claire Trevena’s office.

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release
June 1, 2006

MILLIONS OF CHILDCARE DOLLARS TO BE HANDED OUT WITH LITTLE
ACCOUNTABILITY, TREVENA DISCOVERS

VICTORIA – Minister of State for Childcare Linda Reid plans to dodge her
responsibility by getting a non-governmental agency to hand out $20
million in one-time funding, New Democrat Childcare Critic Claire
Trevena said today.

“The Minister is ducking responsibility for disbursing millions of
dollars in funding, and this raises some serious questions about
transparency and accountability”, said Trevena, the MLA for North
Island. “This is just another example of the Minister’s complete
mismanagement of the childcare portfolio.”

Under questioning from Trevena during budget estimates on Wednesday,
Minister Reid revealed that the B.C. Council for the Family will be
managing $20 million in funding from the Ministry of Children and Family
Development. This comes after the Ministry earlier this year handed out
$20 million in one-time funding for childcare providers, with the caveat
that the money be spent on equipment and be expended before the end of
the calendar year.

“If I hadn’t pushed the Minister on this issue during budget estimates
debates, who knows when we would have found out? The Minister certainly
didn’t tell childcare providers about this decision, and she wasn’t able
to provide me with any information about how the money will be
distributed,” said Trevena. “Childcare providers have been told so many
different things by this Minister, it’s no wonder that they are at their
wits’ end.”

The Minister of State for Childcare wrote a letter to childcare
providers on May 15 outlining the $20 million in funding, but did not
mention that the money would be distributed through a non-governmental
agency.

— 30 —

The release was forwarded to me by a fellow colleague from the child care community and I was intrigued.  You see for some time now I (like many others) have been wondering what happened to the last remaining amounts of the “old” Federal child care money in BC. I decided to do a bit of digging and found the question and answer period that the release was referring to.  Thank goodness for the Hansard online!

Well if you read here from pages 47 to 64 you will learn a lot about what has gone on with the Federal child care dollars.  In addition, Minister Reid answers many other questions related to the recent cutbacks in child care.  While it is not exactly super exciting reading, it is certainly enlightening.  It would appear that there are still some announcements to come for child care spending in BC. See section 1555 of the discussion to learn more.

Stay tuned…it seems that all of the “old” Federal money has not yet been announced on child care in BC.  According to Minister Reid it has been allocated (and spent) but just not yet announced…don’t you just love politics?  I would really like to know what the delay is in making these announcements…