Demand for childcare continues to grow
Richmond Review
Dec 12 2009
By: Matthew Hoekstra

…. Parents searching for childcare in Richmond come to know the wait-list. Sandcastle has one, as do most other centres. At three child care centres operated by the Society of Richmond Children's Centres demand is as high as it's ever been.

"Our wait-lists are growing, not decreasing...from six months to six years old," said Nicky Byres, executive director. "The vast majority of parents are shocked when we say it's a one to two year wait. Generally they're calling to ask if they can have a space next month."

According to the city's most recent child care needs assessment, demand for child care spaces continues to outstrip supply. Even if a space can be found, parents also struggle with the cost of childcare, lack of flexibility, location and availability of multi-language support.

Byres said parents have a fighting chance of securing a childcare space for under-three care if they sign up their infant at conception. There are even children on the wait-list who have yet to be conceived. Byres said increasingly larger employers are signing on to wait-lists on behalf of their employees.

"This is a trend we haven't previously seen. They're having a struggle getting their employees back to work because their employees cannot find satisfactory child care options."

Byres believes most of the new spaces in Richmond will be folded into new residential developments. Her society is now working with a developer who is providing space to the city, which the society will lease.

Adrienne Montani, B.C. co-ordinator for the child advocacy group First Call, believes the long-term solution to improving access to childcare is for B.C. to adopt a universal publicly funded system.

"Parents would pay still about 20 per cent of the cost, but it wouldn't break the bank and look like a second mortgage to have young children," she said.

That could mean more taxes, but Montani said investing in childcare makes economic sense. She said a a 2009 University of B.C. study commissioned by the B.C. Business Council found such a system would cost government $1.5 billion in B.C. But without it, the loss in gross domestic product is significant.

She said when Quebec expanded its access to child care, 40 per cent of its investment was returned thanks to more parents returning to work.

"It pays for itself, or partially. But it is an investment that we think is absolutely crucial to a healthy society," said Montani….