TREVENA TABLES MOTION TO ADDRESS CHILDCARE CRISIS
November 2, 2007

VICTORIA - In the face of an ever-worsening childcare crisis facing B.C. families, New Democrats are pressing the Campbell government to finally take action.

This week New Democrat Childcare Critic Claire Trevena tabled a motion calling for a high quality, affordable, accessible, universal, and publicly funded childcare system for B.C.

"We're seeing childcare centres closing, parents desperate for a place for their child and businesses hurting because they're losing workers," said Trevena, the MLA for North Island.

"The childcare sector needs commitment and it needs a well funded plan which will deal with one of the core issues: recruitment and retention of staff."

Trevena said centres across the province are seeing their staff leave
because of low wages.

"We need the Campbell government to recognize that childcare workers are professionals who do one of the most important jobs in our society,guiding our youngsters in their early development," Trevena said.

 Trevena tabled the motion as concern mounted about the foreign takeover of B.C.'s childcare centres by big box operators looking for big profits.

"We're dealing with a growing crisis," said Trevena. "But big boxchildcare would be a catastrophe. It is the commercialization of childcare. In countries where these commercial childcare centres areoperating, standards have dropped and it is the children who suffer.

 "This government should commit to a well funded childcare plan, which allows access to all parents who want their children to have the opportunity for childcare."