Child care crisis growing
Chilliwack Times
20 Nov 2007
By: Paul J. Henderson

… A recent survey of parents and child care providers found that 43 per cent of licensed group/preschool providers reported having to turn parents away because of staff shortages, and 76 per cent of family providers have turned parents away, according to the Eastern Fraser Valley and Child Care Resource and Referral Program (CCRR) Child Care Survey.

"There is such a lack of child care in the province," said Barb Presseau, coordinator of the Chilliwack CCRR.

Presseau and Karin Rempel, coordinator for Chilliwack Early Years, attended a city council meeting in October to present the findings of the survey and to ask for council's support in helping with the problem.

One stumbling block for those who might want to run small child care facilities out of their own homes is the barriers put up by some strata councils in multifamily dwellings, as well as the $400 temporary commercial permit the city requires them to purchase.

"$400 is a pretty big barrier," said Presseau. "What we are hoping to do is start to educate the strata operators and boards to think about allowing some licensed family providers to open up in their complex."

At the council meeting Mayor Clint Hames did express some sympathy with the temporary commercial permit issue, and Presseau is hopeful because of the good response she got.

"There is a lot of merit to what you are saying," Hames said…

At her presentation to council Rempel said the seriousness and importance of child care should not be overlooked.

"Child care isn't just play, it's part of our economy," Rempel said. …