Daycare advocates seek $10-a-day plan for B.C.

B.C. childcare advocates desperate to create affordable daycare in the province have presented a proposal for universal daycare to the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

It's been dubbed the "$10-a-day plan" because that's what parents would pay, but it does come with a price tag for the B.C. government.

The Coalition of Child Care Advocates of B.C., who met with a deputy minister Tuesday, says that only 20 per cent of children who need it can get into licensed daycare.

"This could really be an election issue," said spokeswoman Emily Mlieczko.

Mlieczko said the proposal envisions a network of centres for children aged one to six in communities run by the Ministry of Education.

"Our plan is proposing that childcare would be at a cost for $10 a day for full time programs and $7 a day for part-time, and for families making $40,000 and under, childcare would be free."

The provincial government's response has been unenthusiastic, in part because of the $1.5-billion cost of fully implementing the plan.

The cost is too much of a burden on B.C. taxpayers during these tough economic times, Mary McNeil, Minister of Children and Family Development said in a release.

Some parents say times are already tough for parents who are paying $1,000 a month for daycare

"[It costs] $7,000 a year for my child to go to university; $12,000 a year for your child to go to daycare," said Pam Preston, of the West Coast Child Resource Centre.