Service at many B.C. day-care centres will be disrupted next month by a one-day protest, which is being staged to draw attention to federal and provincial funding cuts.
Feb. 13 — the day of the provincial throne speech — has been designated by child-care activists as a day of protest.
Day cares across B.C. will be disrupted during a day of protest Feb. 13.
(CBC)
They say the cuts will result in fewer resources for parents, and fewer child-care spaces for kids.
Deb Jarvis, the executive director of the Kootenay Kids Society, said some day-care centres will be closed for the day, while others will be the scene of public rallies.
She notes the federal Conservatives cancelled the Early Learning and Child Care Agreement last year, which will cost B.C. $450 million in funding over three years.
As a result, the provincial government has said it will have to reduce child-care funding by roughly $40 per child per month.
Jarvis said that's unacceptable, pointing to a huge demand for child-care services in southeastern B.C.
"We have a wait-list of over 200 children right now waiting for our 16 licensed centres. And it's going to get even worse. When we take away this operating fund, many centres will have to close their doors."
She added that the protest will vary from community to community, with some child-care centres being closed for the day.
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