MLA rolls out child care
Vancouver Island News Group -- Campbell River Mirror
March 14, 2008

Affordable, universal child care is the focus of "Raising B.C." a traveling forum set up by North Island NDP MLA Claire Trevena.

Trevena and NDP party leader Carole James are visiting different communities around B.C., touring day cares and meeting with staff. The goal is to call for a "province-wide commitment towards building child care solutions for B.C. families," according to Trevena's press release this week.

Child care has become unaffordable for many parents, said Trevena and James.

"More than 11,000 children are on child care waitlists across our province today. The average cost for toddler care is $900 per month and can run as high as $1,400," said Trevena in the news release. "Meanwhile, parents are struggling to balance work and family with a very high cost of living."

Trevena said that child care doesn't seem to be a priority for the provincial government. She said there are long wait lists across the province, and many centres are reporting wait lists of up to two years for infant and toddler child care spaces.

Trevena and James are scheduled to be in Campbell River today with Raising B. C. Trevena will be meeting with families, business leaders, child care providers and local governments in communities across B.C. through to the end of May….