The BC budget and full day kindergarten

From the Canadian Press article: B.C. budget forecasts $2.8 billion deficit, higher debt, increases medical premiums

The government will spend extra $80 million to combat the H1N1 flu
virus and plans for all-day kindergarten are also back on the agenda.

Although
full-day kindergarten was introduced last year, it was not accounted
for in the budget released in February and the government hinted that
hard times meant it was an unaffordable luxury.

But the Liberals
now say they will spend $151 million this year to ensure half of
British Columbia's five-year-olds can opt for full-day kindergarten
next year, with the remaining following in 2011. It's unclear how the
government will decide which half.

Hansen used full-day
kindergarten as an example of how families will benefit financially
from this budget, an apparent effort to offset some of the anger from
British Columbians over the 12-per-cent HST, a combination of the
provincial sales tax and the federal GST.

From the Vancouver Sun article: B.C. increases budget for welfare, kindergarten and forest fires

Hansen also announced $151 million in funding to start an all-day
provincial kindergarten program. The money will provide spots for half
of the children starting kindergarten in 2010 and all of those starting
in 2011.

“A full-day program, an enriched program for students is
a benefit,” said Connie Denesiuk, president of the B.C. School Trustees
Association. “There was a period of time where all-day kindergarten was
in question and now it’s back on the agenda, and we are glad to see
that.”

The new opportunity also presents new challenges for
schools, Denesiuk said. Not every school will have space available and
school districts will have to find more teachers.

From The Opinion 250 article: Provincial Deficit $2.8 Billion This Year

The Budget Update supports government’s plan to introduce
full-day kindergarten in British Columbia. It commits $151 million to
provide the option of full-day kindergarten for 50 per cent of
five-year-olds starting school next year, and for all five-year-olds in
British Columbia by fall 2011.

From CTV.ca article: B.C. delivers bad-news budget as deficit balloons

The province is planning to spend more in certain areas, including $151
million to allow half of British Columbia's five-year-olds to opt for
full-day kindergarten next year, with the remaining half getting access
in 2011.