A Closer Look: Child care continues to be a challenge for city families.
The Record (New Westminster)
March 7, 2009

It costs too much, there aren't enough spaces, and, for those who want to start a child-care centre, zoning sometimes presents another hurdle.

The city politicos want New West to become a 'child-friendly' city known for both the availability of child care and its quality.

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A blueprint for a 'child-friendly' city
The Record (New Westminster)
March 7, 2009
By: Theresa McManus

The City of New Westminster is hoping a new strategy will make it a leader in the area of child care.

City council recently endorsed the child-care strategy in principle ….The goal is to build a "child-friendly" city.

A staff report said the child-care strategy is based on the results of a child-care needs assessment, research into "promising practices" being used by municipalities considered to be leaders in the field of child care, and the input of the child-care strategy task group.

"Currently, we are not a leader," said Coun. Jonathan Cote. … Cote said the child-care assessment that council received last fall highlighted some of the challenges associated with child care, including facilities operating at capacity and having waiting lists. He said it's a bit disappointing that other levels of government haven't address the issue the way they should.

…. Coun. Bill Harper. "Here we are doing a federal/provincial jurisdiction in our local community."

The new child-care strategy updates the Caring For Children child-care strategy that the city completed in 1995.

"During this time, the planning context in which the strategy was based has changed," noted a staff report. "The provincial and federal governments are not as active in this area as in the past and there are increasing requests for municipal leadership and assistance."

According to a staff report, the demand for licensed child care "far outstrips" supply and the city finds itself in a "competitive disadvantage" compared to some other municipalities that are more proactive in this area.

Some of the findings of the child-care needs assessment were that: 46 per cent of child-care operators report that their tenure arrangements are insecure or relatively insecure; 91 per cent of child-care facilities are operating at capacity and 84 per cent report a waiting list; and infant/toddler (zero to three years) and out-of-school care (six to 12 years) are the two types of licensed child care that are most in demand.

The child-care strategy includes 21 recommendations under several themes: formalize the responsibility for child care within the city; establish a child-care strategy implementation group; continue to participate in the Early Childhood Development Public Partners Committee; develop child-care agreements between the city, school district and other stakeholders; integrate child-care needs into municipal planning process; prepare and disseminate information related to child care; lobby senior levels of government for increased funding and support; implement permissive zoning in support of new child-care spaces; use density bonusing to create new child-care spaces; enhance the city's status as a progressive employer; and establish a child-care development reserve fund and grant program.

The report divided the various recommendations into actions to be taken in Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3.

One of the recommendations is that child care be designated as a "standard" community need, similar to parkland, and that child-care planning be integrated into the municipal planning process.

The child-care strategy also stated that child care should be considered in all appropriate development projects, including through the negotiation of developer contributions. It also said neighbourhoods should be planned as "child-friendly" places.

"It's pretty huge," said Coun. Jaimie McEvoy. "That is actually a pretty big step for our city."

McEvoy believes it's significant to integrate family-friendly policies into the city's planning policies.

Coun. Betty McIntosh said the city needs to make sure it has enough daycare spaces for workers and people working different shifts. She believes the city has to encourage the school district to have before- and after-school daycares in all schools.

"It's trying to find a space to accommodate," said senior social planner John Stark about the space crunch in school. "Some teachers are reluctant to share spaces."

One of the strategy's recommendations is to develop a child-care protocol where the city and school district jointly work to stabilize and increase the viability of existing child-care programs so there is no loss in spaces within their collective control.

The strategy also recommends they also plan for and develop new child-care spaces on city/school district lands and promote joint use of space….

Council approved a recommendation to make the school district aware of the city's child-care needs.

Coun. Jaimie McEvoy would like special attention to be given to special needs children in daycare.

Council also approved recommendations to give high priority to child care for special needs and more space for emergency child care in New Westminster.