Daycares to expand despite staff shortage
The Daily News (Kamloops)
January 16, 2008
By: Cam Fortems

Despite challenges in recruiting and retaining staff, Kamloops' two largest child-care centres expressed confidence Tuesday they will be able to expand to create new spaces this year.

The prediction comes at the same time as a provincewide survey that found 90 per cent of centres have experienced difficulty keeping staff and attracting new workers. That shortage is driven principally by low wages.

The survey, by First Call B.C., also found 74 per cent of respondents to the online survey were skeptical a B.C. Liberal government program to provide breaks on student loans for early childhood educators and for more professional development will do anything to help.

The two Kamloops centres together received $800,000 in federal funding two years ago, a legacy of the former Liberal government in Ottawa.

Kamloops Child Development Society received $500,000 to create 40 new spaces on the North Shore. While renovations are complete, it has not been able to find staff so it can expand….

"The big issue is we'll be trying to staff it," said Frolek, who agreed salaries in the field are a barrier to attracting new workers.

Vi-Anne Zirnhelt, president-elect of the Early Childhood Educators of B.C., said the survey accurately depicts the labour shortage.

Zirnhelt is the executive director of Children's Circle Daycare, which hopes to open 29 new spaces this spring to satisfy demand and shorten a lengthy waiting list.

To find new staff and keep its current workers, Children's Circle brought in a new policy linking its pay grid to years of experience, whether for new employees or existing staff. The earlier policy, typical in the field, saw new staff paid an entry-level wage, no matter their experience.

"Our board has been very proactive for recruitment and retention. If someone has 10 years of experience, they'll start at a higher rate."

Zirnhelt said that policy has helped attract new workers.

While that policy has helped with staffing shortages it comes at a cost to parents through higher rates. Parents with two children under three years will pay about $1,700 a month for full-time child care.

That rate puts care out of the range of some parents, particularly low-income parents receiving provincial subsidy, Zirnhelt said.

The early childcare educators society is looking for more direct government funding to improve employee salaries and working conditions as well as to provide parents with better options at an affordable price.