Editor:
Re: What's best for children is not a $10 a day daycare program, Community Comment, April 3
I have operated a licenced family childcare for 17 years in South Delta and I agree there is a problem with parents receiving low wages and their ability to find childcare.
Child caregivers and parents all know the subsidy program is outdated and the amount parents receive does not cover the full cost of the care they need. I would like to see the child care advocates put their energy into changing the subsidy program to provide for families that need the financial help instead of fighting for a universal childcare program.
Starting a universal childcare program does not guarantee "quality" childcare, nor does it guarantee there will be more spaces available.
I realize that comparing a program in B.C. to Quebec is unrealistic as Quebec receives monetary help from the other provinces in Canada, but we all know the universal program in Quebec caused a lot of quality family daycares to close because they could not compete with the low fees offered by the large institutional/centre-based daycares.
The outcome was a shortage of childcare spaces, leaving parents scrambling to find an alternative. Let's take one step at a time and help those that need the help first.
Shirley Jutras
