Province Kicks In To Child Care, Where Feds Pull Out

By 250 News

The provincial government has announced, effective today, it is increasing childcare funding rates for children under three years of age.

Minister of State for Child Care, Linda Reid says the rate increase is aimed at mitigating the loss of $455-million dollars over the next three years that occurred when Ottawa cancelled the 2005 Early Learning and Child Care agreement in March.

Reid says the cancelled agreement meant Ottawa removed its contribution to the Child Care Operating Fund for licensed providers.  She says her government covered that contribution to end of the school year to prevent disruption for families.

And, starting today, the provincial per day, per space funding rates for licensed child care providers of children 0 - 35
months will increase as follows:

• Group Child Care (four hours or less) from $5.14 to $6
• Group Child Care (more than four hours) from $10.28 to $12
• Family Child Care (four hours or less) from $1.59 to $1.85
• Family Child Care (more than four hours) from $3.18 to $3.70

The B.C. government provides more than $50 million annually in funding to the CCOF Program, and plans to spend more than $287 million for child care services in 2007-08. 

 "What we've done as a result of the challenge we've been presented with is refocus and invest child-care resources in programs that support our most vulnerable children and families," said Reid.

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