Test waters before free daycare
The Daily Courier (Kelowna)
January 9, 2008
Opinion By: Tom Wilson

Kelowna city council is considering setting up a daycare for its employees' young children.

Some will view the suggestion as an extravagance at taxpayers' expense, especially after municipal taxes increased this year by an average of 5.7 per cent.

Before reaching that conclusion, it's important to understand the critical shortage of daycare spots available in this area, along with the city's shortage of skilled workers.

Every daycare in Kelowna has a long wait list for openings. Parents are signing up for daycare spots even before their child is born, hoping a vacancy will be available by the time the baby is ready to attend.

The labour shortage is no secret to anyone who has tried to hire a skilled employee from another part of the country. Unless they come from Vancouver, Victoria or Toronto, prospective employees are reluctant to plunge into the Okanagan's expensive real estate market. And young families are even less likely to move here when they investigate the daycare shortage.

Combine the two issues, and the city's proposal for in-house daycare isn't as extravagant as it might appear.

Currently, only about five per cent of the city's 700-plus employees have children who might use a daycare -- but that's at least 140 children, if they all signed up. That's a pretty big daycare that would require a number of staff.

Mayor Sharon Shepherd and Coun. Michelle Rule have suggested city employees should pay if a daycare is established.

Until its usefulness as an enticement is proven, council should consider a 50-50 split of the cost with employees….