The Editor,
This month we saw excellent news with the long awaited announcement of the $10 per day daycare prototype sites launched across British Columbia.
Along with other new programs like the Fee Reduction Initiative and Affordability Benefit, which each started earlier this year, most families in the province are now paying lower fees than they otherwise would have been.
Recently, we also welcomed early childhood educator wage enhancements and are continuing to push for further increases.
While these are all important steps in the move towards universal child care in B.C., families also desperately need access to more licensed child care spaces.
Currently, only 18% of children in the province have access to a licensed child care space. Waiting lists can be years long, leaving families no choice but to use unlicensed care.
My hope is to see the city of Coquitlam apply for new provincial grants aimed at creating more licensed child care spaces, making public land available for custom-designed modular buildings, which will help quickly create new quality child care programs.
Let’s see the city be leaders in supporting the creation of Early Learning and Care programs for our children and provide access to beautiful rich play spaces that reflect the planning and care we have put into our parks.
Jacqueline Ewonus
Program Director with the SFU Childcare Society
Coquitlam
