Provincial Liberals 'out of touch' on child care, charges MLA
Courier-Islander (Campbell River)
September 26, 2008

Wednesday's call for workable child care solutions to involve all levels of government shows the B.C. Liberals have failed to address the spiraling crisis in child care for young families at the provincial level, says NDP child care critic and North Island MLA Claire Trevena.

"The Campbell Liberals are so out of touch on the issues that matter to British Columbians that they refuse to acknowledge the serious struggles young families face," she said. "Instead, it is left to advocates, parents and other levels of government to build practical solutions that can address the growing crisis in child care."

Trevena's comments came after the Regional Child Care Council of Greater Victoria released their child care plan 'Building on our Strengths: A Child Care Plan for Victoria' and called for the co-operation at various levels of government and for public support to ensure success. The regional plan would reduce parent fees and increase the quality and number of spaces in the region.

"The reality today for most families is that both parents must work - it's not an option. The B.C. Liberals have sat on the side lines while child care reached crisis mode," said Trevena.

"The dwindling spaces, struggles to maintain staff and the enormous burdens on family budgets for even one care space have sent the system into meltdown.

"That's why the New Democrats are committed to providing a quality, accessible, affordable child care system for B.C."

Trevena said the Campbell government has added to the crisis by refusing to address adequate working wages that would attract and retain staff and for their short sightedness in closing over 170 schools, many that offered after-school programs for working families….