BCGEU will continue lobbying for a better system
Vancouver (16 Nov. 2007) - The British Columbia government has announced changes to child care regulations that will weaken quality care standards, says the B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE).
"Many child care centres say they could provide more spaces if only they could offer improved wages and benefits that would attract and keep qualified staff. Instead, the new regulations lower staffing ratio requirements. This will mean fewer people taking care of more children," the union reports.
"The government has again chosen not to invest funding to address the early childhood educator recruitment and retention crisis. Nor do the regulation changes address how government cuts have forced parent fees to rise - putting affordable child care out of the reach of thousands of families," the BCGEU says.
"Early childhood educators and families have been clear - this government needs to take responsibility for providing real solutions in the form of higher wages and lower parent fees. Relaxing regulations is not a viable long-term fix for the urgent child care issues B.C. families and early childhood educators (ECEs) face today."
The BCGEU, its members, and its partners in the Child Care - Let's Make It Happen! campaign will continue to lobby the government to commit to building a public, affordable, accessible quality child care system now. Child care providers are continuing to analyze the impact of these changes. NUPGE
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