BC Minister of State for Childcare, Katrina Chen, was touring Northern BC last week, in hopes of mending what was once a seemingly broken childcare system in BC.
Chen outlines some of the issues she heard facing communities in the Bulkley Valley and Lakes District.
“We know that every community in BC deals with a lack of childcare providers and that is no different here in the Bulkley Valley and Lakes District. I’ve heard there is a shortage of infant-toddler spaces as well, so how do we mitigate that issue? Another struggle residents deal with is high quality and affordable childcare providers. Childcare across BC has gone up roughly 33% which could be as much as a rent or mortgage payment and that is really a heavy burden.”
Chen says the mitigation process begins with face to face interactions and explains why this was an important step in bettering the childcare system in BC.
“As elected officials, it’s a crucial part of our job to get out and listen to as many communities as possible. We need feedback from every region of the province and with that, we can connect it to policies. If the policies do not meet the needs of British Columbian’s, then there is a gap. That is why I made it my priority to get out and listen to front line stories from parents, providers, and childcare professionals in the area.”
Chen says the trip for her was quite successful and she will take this knowledge back to Victoria to begin building policies and a brighter future for childcare in the province.
Something going on in the Bulkley Valley Lakes District you think people should know about?
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