City plans strategy for child care
The Record (New Westminster)
December 6, 2008
By: Theresa McManus

…. The New Westminster child-care needs assessment gives an overview of the child-care system and a snapshot of the current child-care situation in the city. Endorsed by city council on Oct. 27, it consolidates information about child care into one source, documents gaps and needs, and identifies issues that need to be addressed.

John Stark, the city's senior social planner, said the assessment provides a blueprint for the upcoming child-care strategy. He said the strategy will be available when the city is making a case for funding from senior levels of government.

"You are talking 600 residents. That is very large," said Coun. Bill Harper, adding the public forum was a huge success. "It has shone a light that there is a crisis, really, going on in the city."

The needs assessment outlines the need for more licensed child-care spaces in all areas of New Westminster.

The city's new child-care policy and strategy will be presented to city council for its consideration in January or February 2009.

"Children deserve the best we can give them," said Coun. Lorrie Williams. "Parents do have to go to work."

Williams said families should have access to safe and affordable daycare, and spaces should be available. She'd like the federal and provincial governments to take action on a national child-care strategy.

If New Westminster wants to be a city that is friendly and welcoming to young families, Coun. Jonathan Cote said it must be able to address their need to have accessible, affordable and quality daycare. He said the child-care needs assessment can also be used to highlight issues when dealing with senior governments.

Harper said provincial and federal governments haven't stepped up to the plate, but he hopes that will change as a provincial election nears.

"The work we are doing is great work," he said. "It isn't clear to people in the city why we are doing it. ... It's because if we don't to it, no one else will do it."…

Cote said he was surprised at the number of facilities that have unsecured lease arrangements.

Stark said the initial thrust of the assessment was to determine how the city would create new spaces, but the process has revealed the need to consider ways to support existing services. He said the goal is to develop a strategy that will strike a balance between the two needs.

…. "Layered on top of that is all the staffing issues."

Stark said issues such as wages, benefits and recognition of credentials are concerns. "It is an unrecognized career right now."….