James Launches Raising B.C. Initiative for Affordable and Accessible Quality Child Care
Years of Campbell’s cuts have left families in a desperate situation - James
VANCOUVER – NDP Leader Carole James and child care critic Claire Trevena called for a province wide commitment towards building child care solutions for B.C. families today with the launch of Raising B.C.
“Raising B.C. is a child care initiative which involves consultations with families, business leaders, child care providers and local governments in communities across B.C.,” said James to a crowd gathered at Harbour View Daycare in East Vancouver. “This initiative is strongly committed to helping build a universal child care program that is accessible and affordable to all British Columbians who struggle to balance work and family.” 
Carole James
Harbour View Daycare, which hosted the launch of Raising B.C., is currently housed in an aging portable that needs to be replaced before the building becomes unsafe. They are also under great strain to accommodate a growing demand for child care, in particular infant and toddler spaces.
“The Campbell government made it clear in this year’s budget that banks and big oil and gas come before B.C.’s kids, “said James. “However, today we stand alongside parents and child care providers to say to this government that B.C. children deserve better,” said James.
Claire TrevenaTrevena said that child care is not a priority for the Campbell government as waitlists across the province burst at the seams; many centres report waitlist of up to two years for infant and toddler child care spaces.
“More than 11,000 children are on child care waitlists across our province today. The average cost for toddler care is $900 per month and can run as high as $1,400,” said Trevena. “Meanwhile, parents are struggling to balance work and family with a very high cost of living."
"We want to talk with people about solutions and figure out how working families can have affordable, accessible high quality care for their children,” said Trevena. “Other provinces and other countries have a commitment to child care; we need to have that too."
"The B.C. Liberals have made it clear that child care is not a priority and their actions are hurting families who are calling for affordable and accessible quality care for their children.”
Raising B.C. will continue on Vancouver Island next week.
Trevena will be meeting with families, business leaders, child care providers and local governments in communities across B.C. through to the end of May.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| 08-03-07 Backgrounder Child care.pdf | 102.32 KB |
- September 8, 2010
- September 7, 2010