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Child-care workers in the province are concerned gains in wages and spaces will be lost once the federal government stops a funding deal reached with the province last year.
"We all feel we're going backwards," said Natalie Weller, director of Beaumont Child Care Centre. "Alberta had a good, solid plan starting out of the gate."
Federal Human Resources Minister Diane Finley has notified all provinces that funding under their five-year agreements will end March 31, 2007, two years in.
After Alberta reached its $489-million deal with the previous government, Children's Services Minister Heather Forsyth announced increased wages for child-care workers, subsidies to help pay for day care and a $100-a-month childhood development subsidy for stay-at-home parents.
Weller said there is concern wages will drop again if the funding isn't maintained.
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Forsyth said: "As of today, it's business as usual for us. This year and next."
Forsyth said she will meet Finley on Wednesday in Ottawa because she has questions about the new Conservative plan. The questions include how they will create 125,000 day-care spaces, and whether the $1,200-a-year payment to parents includes children who are six or just those younger.
- reprinted from the Calgary Herald