James

The New Democrat Plan:
Creating a strong learning foundation for
BC children
Create affordable, quality, child care
to help all parents earn a living and
improve early childhood
development opportunities for BC
children
Over the past four years, Gordon Campbell has:
• cancelled the universal child care program
• eliminated funding for before - and afterschool
care
• cut subsidies to low-income parents
• reduced the number of people who qualified
for subsidies
• used federal dollars targeted for child care
on a whole range of provincial programs
For over ten years, the Vancouver Board of
Trade has supported public expenditures on
children in their early years as good public
policy… New research has provided evidence
that investment in our children’s early development
before they go to school can prevent
many social problems and that the economic
payback is spectacular.
Vancouver Board of Trade
July 1999
Any reasonable industrial and educational
strategy requires high quality child care…
for every $1 invested in licensed child care
there is a $2 benefit.
Gordon Cleveland
and Michael Krashinsky
Department of Economics,
University of Toronto
His cuts and mismanagement of federal child
care dollars punish parents who are trying to
get an education or support their family. Even
worse, his actions fly in the face of current
research that shows how important early childhood development and learning is for
education success down the road. Gordon Campbell’s approach is outdated and out of touch.
Carole James believes child care is a key to strengthening our economy and the future
of BC children. The New Democrats will ensure that all federal dollars targeted for child
care are spent on child care, and will work with the federal government to support the
universal child care program now being planned by the federal government.
The New Democrat plan for child care
Carole James will introduce legislation to
enshrine a made-in-BC interpretation of the four
key principles the federal government has
attached to its child care funding. It adds a
distinct fifth principle aimed at guaranteeing
public accountability:
Quality
One of the best ways to assure quality is through
the licensing process. A priority focus should be
strengthening the quality non-profit sector.
Universality
The plan must be inclusive of all regardless of
level of ability or income.
Accessibility
The plan must move to make childcare available
and affordable in all communities.
Developmentally focused
Increased training opportunities in both ECD
and Special Needs for childcare staff is essential
to promoting physical, cognitive, cultural, social
and emotional development.
Accountability
Government spending in this area should be
subject to an independent audit and tied to
specific timelines and targets.
BCNDP Platform 2005 15