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B.C. to push Ottawa for more child care dollars [CA-BC]

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Author: 
Rudd, Jeff
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Publication Date: 
1 Jun 2006
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B.C. Minister of State Linda Reid is setting up another chance to lobby her Ottawa counterpart for a firmer federal funding commitment on child care.

Reid said Wednesday she has invited federal Human Resources Minister Diane Finley to visit B.C. during the next two months to continue discussions on the Conservative government's approach to the issue.

Reid took part in a day-long group session with Finley as part of the federal-provincial-territorial meetings in Ottawa earlier this week.

The meeting ended with several provincial ministers still keenly disappointed in the federal approach.

"The information provided [by the federal government] was still very sketchy,'' Reid said in an interview from Toronto. "I am hoping to nail down more details [when Finley visits].''

But besides helping to help create child-care spaces, Reid said Ottawa must also provide funds to sustain them.

A recent Ontario study showed that $10,000 a year is required to operate and maintain a single child-care space.

The provinces believe the federal government should recognize this, Reid said.

"The ministers are very united in our approach to secure additional dollars. We are committed to stay on it," she said.

- reprinted from the Victoria Times-Colonist