Teen child-care 'crisis'
24 HOURS
By IRWIN LOY
April 11, 2008

When Claudyne Meeker's daughter, Emma, turns three in a little more than a year, the high school student could face a difficult choice: Finish school, or drop out to take care of her daughter.

That's when a program for young mothers that has allowed Meeker to continue her education dries up. Up until now, its allowed her to attend Grade 10 classes at Burnaby South Secondary, while 22-month-old Emma is looked after at a nearby child-care centre.

But when Emma turns three, Meeker will join the thousands of other Lower Mainland parents looking for child care. So far, that search has been disheartening.

"It's pretty brutal," said Meeker, speaking yesterday with 24 hours at the Burnaby South Child-care Centre while Emma played metres away.

"There is no daycare available, and the spots that are available have three-year waiting lists."

Meeker hopes to move on to post-secondary education, but right now, she's not optimistic.

"I don't think I'll be able to unless I find day care," she said.

Grade 11 student Natasha Hamvai will have graduated by the time her 11-month-old turns three. But she wonders how she'll have time for college if she can't find a child care spot for Billy.

"I have big dreams," said Hamvai, who has her eyes set on a career as a paralegal. "I want to go to post-secondary. I want to get a good job."

At Burnaby South, there's a lengthy wait for the handful of spots open to the community. Centre supervisor Carla Plekan had to cut off the list at 117.

"It's out of control," she said….

$1,050
- PER MONTH
Average monthly child care rate for a two-year-old in Vancouver

15%
- NO SUPPORT
Percentage of child care spaces available for kids who need it.

<5
- ALL ACCESS
The NDP opposition wants universal child care for kids five and under