Chambers of Commerce from across the West Kootenay region met in Rossland recently where they discussed strategy and set priorities ahead of the B.C. Chamber of Commerce’s provincial AGM in Whistler in May.

The West Kootenay chambers identified child care and rural transportation as the two issues that must be addressed to enhance the economic prosperity of the region, communities and the province.

Regional chambers elevated child care to the top of the agenda for the provincial business community, leading to initiatives around funding, as well as programs to enhance recruitment and retention in the field.

“The Chambers in the region must be congratulated for the role they have played in moving this issue to the forefront of the provincial policy agenda,” says John Winter, president and CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce. “Despite the fact that we have seen government act on several of our recommendations, the bottom line for business is, if childcare is not addressed in a comprehensive way, it will have a huge impact on businesses’ ability to remain viable, let alone competitive and profitable.”

West Kootenay Chambers will call for a guarantee of quality, affordable child care in every community in B.C. in a resolution presented at the AGM. They want the provincial government to make developing, funding and implementing a comprehensive Child Care Strategy for B.C. an immediate priority….