“The Ministry of Health Services is renewing the regulations for licensed child day care settings, and for licensed residential care settings for adults, children and youth”.

The new Community Care and Assisted Living Act, came into force on May 14, 2004 and this round of child care consultation from Sept 28 – Dec 31, 2004 will focus on:

• “reduction in the number of categories of facilities;
• standardization of physical plant requirements;
• improve / standardize staff: child ratios;
• improve training requirements for Early Childhood Educators and staff;
• increase maximum hours of care; and
• mandatory emergency preparedness planning.”

All interested persons are invited to participate in “a community session” (“working group discussion”) or by “submitting written comments”.

Public consultation will be held in: Kamloops, Castlegar, Kelowna, North Vancouver; Vancouver, Richmond; Victoria, Campbell River, Nanaimo, Abbotsford, Coquitlam, Surrey, Terrace, Prince George, and Fort St John.