NDP critic weighs in on challenges of child care
The Daily News (Nanaimo)
March 17, 2008

New Democrat child-care critic Claire Trevena was in Nanaimo last week to talk to families about the problems they face in finding affordable child care for their children.

Her visit was part of a provincial tour called Raising B.C.

"I've also been hearing from child-care providers about the difficulties they have in keeping costs low for parents and retaining staff," she said.

Trevena visited with parents and providers at the Jolly Giant Daycare in Nanaimo, where operators have been forced to close child-care spaces because of an inability to attract and retain qualified staff.

"Child-care providers have had to reduce available child-care spaces from 20 to 12 because they can't attract enough staff," said Trevena.

"That's because the Campbell government hasn't made competitive wages for child-care providers a priority."