Opinion -- Our View

On pages B1-B8 of today's Courier-Islander you will see a special section focusing on the importance of quality child care for our youngest residents. You will also read about the fact that Campbell River and Canada in general have received a failing grades when it comes to child care. Child care providers are working as best they can to provide a safe, loving environment for children while their parents are at work, but funding for child care centres is low, wages for child care workers are low and finding a space for your child in the first place can feel a little like a search for gold dust.

The problem affects the entire community. One parent, a teacher new to the area, has been asked to work in School District 72 but can't because he can't find child care. Another, a business owner, is having a difficult time scheduling staff around the difficult availability of child care in Campbell River. Many parents can't work at all, because the costs of daycare are so high it makes no sense for them to go to a minimum-wage job. They wouldn't come out ahead in the end.

If children are our most important resource, why is our government failing to solve this problem?