As a parent who has benefited deeply from the excellent early childhood care at Discovery Kids Childcare in Squamish, I am writing out of growing concern over how the B.C. government is quietly undermining the success of the $10-a-day child care program by changing how funding is allocated.
The shift to only fund minimum staffing ratios might look like efficiency on paper, but the reality is far more troubling. This new structure erodes the stability of high-quality child-care centres. Working with young children makes staff illness inevitable, and smaller centres鈥攁lready operating on tight margins鈥攁re forced to close their doors when even one educator is away. This leaves parents, including frontline workers, business owners, educators, and sole providers, without care and unable to work.
Reliable child care isn鈥檛 a luxury鈥攊t鈥檚 the foundation that allows our communities and economy to function. Instead of squeezing centres into an unsustainable model, the B.C. government should invest in what works. Look at centres with high parent satisfaction, low unplanned closures, and strong staff retention鈥攖hese should be the benchmarks for funding.
We have been so incredibly thankful for the care, consistency, and professionalism shown by Discovery Kids over the years. All three of our children have flourished there, thanks to a team that deserves fair compensation for their education and experience, sufficient paid sick time, and the staffing depth to avoid closures. This is what a successful child care model looks like鈥攐ne that should be supported, not undermined.
Please, let鈥檚 not jeopardize the very system we鈥檙e trying to expand.
Catherine Wilson
Squamish
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