MLA delves into new child care critic position
Courier-Islander -- Campbell River
21 Jul 2006
By: Denise Sharkey

North Island MLA Claire Trevena toured a Campbell River child care centre and chatted with workers earlier this week.

Trevena is the new Official Opposition critic for child care and early childhood development in the B.C. NDP shadow cabinet. She said child care is vitally important for working families.

"Childcare isn't about babysitting," Trevena said. "An increasing amount of research proves what many people already knew: that the most vital time in a child's learning is between birth and six, and that childcare centres provide an environment that fosters learning and development."

Trevena toured the Leishman Child Care Centre, saying Campbell River, and B.C. in general, need more such spaces for young children.

"Unfortunately the BC Liberals have failed to deliver promised, and needed, childcare spaces," she said.

Trevena met with the Leishman Child Care Centre employees as well as Joyce McMann, coordinator of the Campbell River Child Care Society. McMann said financial constraints on families result in more and more children returning to a 'latchkey' situation - staying home alone after school until their parents get home from work. She said affordability, and a sense of certainty, are vital for families with low income to be able to access quality child care.

'We have families where two parents are working five part-time jobs," McMann said. "And furthermore, they don't know when they're going to have to work. They're on call, they could be called in at any time. And they're working for very low wages.

"For 35 years, there's never been a feeling of certainty."

Rachel Clandening, supervisor at Leishman Child Care Centre, added that low wages for the workers add to the stress in the field. She said child care workers stay with their jobs because they are committed to their work, not because of decent pay.

"We do it because we know it's important and we love it and we believe in it," she said.

McMann agreed that wages are low - supervisors make $12.75 an hour, she said.

"It's very frustrating," she said.