The B.C. Chamber of Commerce unanimously passed a Child Care Resolution brought forward by the Trail and District and Prince George chapters to the Chamber's recent annual general meeting.

The resolution includes calling for the restoration of operating funding for child care resource centres to at least 2006 levels, and increased funds to support competitive wages, benefits and programs to recruit new early childhood educators.

Kim Vokey, president of the Campbell River and District Chamber of Commerce, notes that our local Chamber fully supports this resolution. Doug Preston, from North Island Employment Foundation adds, "accessible and appropriately funded child care is a critical support that allows families to participate in the workforce. Without immediate changes we will increasingly see skills and labour shortages that negatively impact business, economic growth and the sustainability of our community."

The resolution begins by acknowledging that:

"Quality child care is no longer just a social issue; the business community of BC now views child care as one of the key factors in addressing the labour shortage in BC. The ability to recruit and retain workers in all industry sectors is underpinned with a worker's ability to secure quality child care that meets their needs.

A comprehensive strategic plan for the child care system in BC is critical to staying competitive in today's global economy."

The B.C. Chamber emphasizes that:

"Recent cuts from the Federal Government to child care in BC are having a domino effect on the workforce due to the lack of commitment and responsibility from the Provincial Government to compensate for those losses. The costs of this decision are having an enormous negative effect on the ability of BC businesses to attract women, young families and skilled workers in general to the workforce." And it went on to note that rural areas can be among the hardest hit.

Though many local child care advocates as well as the BC Government and Service Employees Union take issue with certain aspects of the Chamber's recommendations, such as the proposal to use public funds to make capital investments in private for-profit child care spaces, most advocates herald the resolution as a whole as a breakthrough. It signals a significant and positive shift in perspective on the part of business.

Child care providers in Campbell River are excited that their campaign for more government support has been endorsed by a key business organization.

"Our city is now facing its own labor shortages," explains Gwen Bennett of Cari's Infant and Toddler Centre.

"We applaud our own Chamber for supporting this resolution on child care."

Judi Desprez of Forest Circle Child Care adds, "It is exciting that this was started in part by a united declaration in a small rural area: Trail and District. This area has a population of less than 8,000, and look where it went. We can do the same here in Campbell River; we can send ripples across BC by standing together as a community and making our collective voices (business and child care partnering) on child care heard."