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Province-wide Survey Reveals Strong Support for Increased Spending on Family Policy

A new survey conducted by the YWCA and funded by Vancity has produced some surprising results concerning public support for comprehensive family policy. The poll, conducted in the spring of 2010, surveyed 800 respondents throughout BC. It revealed overwhelming support for government spending on family services and support programs. However, it also revealed some popular misconceptions.

Support for Family Support and Childcare

The survey demonstrated strong support for childcare services regardless of age, region, gender, and income level. Respondents overwhelmingly supported improving access to affordable childcare in BC. By far the most popular policy options for achieving this goal were: (1) increasing affordable quality childcare services and (2) additional income supports for low income parents. There was also substantial support for additional government spending to ensure families and children get the help needed to succeed.

Popular Misconceptions

While the survey revealed a remarkable degree of public support for increased government spending on childcare, it also demonstrated that BC residents shared some popular misconceptions around key childcare issues. The majority of respondents severely underestimated the number of BC children considered vulnerable or at risk, while an overwhelming majority didn’t know that Canada ranks near last among OECD nations in support for families with young children.

Some key findings:

• 88% of respondents support the BC government in meeting its goal of reducing the number of vulnerable children to 15% by 2015;
• 89% supported increasing affordable quality childcare services;
• 83% supported increasing income supports for low income parents;
• 60% supported an investment of $1 billion or more additional government spending to ensure families and children get the help needed to succeed;
• 37% supported spending “whatever it takes” to achieve this goal;
• 70% underestimated the number of children in BC who are ‘vulnerable’ or ‘at risk’; (1)
• Only 14% correctly guessed that Canada ranks near last among OECD nations in support for families with young children.

(1) Currently 29% of BC children are estimated to be ‘vulnerable’ or ‘at risk’.

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Questions or Comments? E-mail: social.planning@vancouver.ca

© 2010 City of Vancouver
Last modified: Tuesday, May 11, 2010