Board asked for child care input
Vernon Morning Star
By RICHARD ROLKE
May 25 2007

The Interior Health Authority is being urged to wade into the midst of the child care crisis.

Kelowna-based Community Action Towards Children's Health is concerned that a lack of child care spaces is having an impact on the health care system, education, the economy and families.

"We have a labour shortage and there is a link with child care," said Menno Salverda, CATCH spokesman, as he made a presentation to the IHA board in Vernon Wednesday.

CATCH specifically asked IHA to determine if a shortage of child care spaces is impacting its organization, especially in the Central Okanagan where it is the largest employer.

"Does a lack of child care affect your employees?" said Salverda.

Murray Ramsden, IHA chief executive officer, couldn't provide details on how the child care crunch is impacting the agency.

"There's definitely a need in the community," he said.

CATCH is also asking the IHA to write business and government organizations to inform them of how healthy childhood development impacts economic sustainability.

Salverda says the Central Okanagan is currently at capacity for spaces for children up to age five.

"We don't know what the number of child care spaces we need."

He also suggested that many parents are apprehensive about child care.

"Parents express fear of leaving their child behind in the system so that may point to quality issues," he said.

Salverda's comments caught the interest of board member Rosanna McGregor, who is First Nations.

"There may be a fear within First Nations because of past experiences with residential schools," she said.

"There's a fear that we are going to release the care of our child to someone else."