News release:
VICTORIA - Out-of-school child-care programs across the province will receive $10.1 million in transition funding while the government of British Columbia develops a new, sustainable child care funding system, Minister of State for Women's Equality Lynn Stephens announced today.
"We are committed to building a safe, affordable and sustainable child-care system in British Columbia," Stephens said. "This transitional funding will give providers of care for out-of-school children the support they need to continue offering quality service while we develop a comprehensive operating-grant system."
The transition funding will be available to all licensed providers of group, out-of-school child-care who currently receive funding under the funding assistance program. It will be available from July 1, 2002, to March 31, 2003.
"We made a New Era commitment to target child-care funding to help parents who need it most," Stephens said. "Many families depend on child care, and government is determined to ensure services are accessible for the future. This funding will help give providers the stability they need while we develop a new program that is fair and equitable for all child-care providers."
The ministry currently funds 495 out-of-school child-care providers across the province. The Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services announced in January that it would replace existing child-care programs with a new, consolidated operating grant for family and group centres effective April 1, 2003.