Child Care Working Group

The Child Care Working Group has worked to promote affordable, regulated and
unionized child care throughout British Columbia, and is active in advocating for improved working conditions and wages for child care workers.

Members of the Child Care Working Group are:

Cheryl Colborne, Staff Advisor

Dan Gawthrop, Staff Advisor

Randi Gurholt-Seary, CUPE 15

Michael Lanier, CUPE 1936

Doug Sprenger, CUPE 951

Dale Whitford, CUPE 951

Child Care Working Group members, from left: Dale Whitford, Cheryl Colborne (staff advisor), Doug Sprenger, Randi Gurholt-Seary, Michael Lanier.

Far from being a narrow issue, accessible child care has a direct effect on the entire country’s economic and social well-being.

The Working Group is an active partner in an ongoing, multi-union campaign called Rethink Child Care. This two-year campaign has started by building understanding and support in the place where child care discussions often happen: the kitchen table. From there, the campaign will join forces on a broader level, and bring the issue into public focus. By 2014, public events and actions will be increasing the pressure on decision-makers, in time to get it on the federal election agenda for 2015.

Help us be a part of the conversation at YOUR kitchen table! We have all the resources you need to start a dialogue, and make a difference. Contact Cheryl Colborne for more information.

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Did You Know?

Here are some numbers from Trish Hennessy, along with her report for the Canadian
Centre for Policy Alternatives in December 2012 (see full report here):

• $1.50 to $3 Estimated return on investment for every dollar spent on early childhood education, according to the TD Bank. It’s an even greater return for children from disadvantaged families.
  

• 75 Percentage of Canadian moms of children aged three to five who work in the paid labour force. (HRSDC Report, October 2012: Source)

• 78.2 Percentage of children under the age of six in Canada who don't have the option of regulated child care because there aren't enough spaces to go around. (HRSDC Report, October 2012: Source)
  
  
• 3 Number of hours between Stephen Harper’s first swearing in as Prime Minister of Canada in 2006 and his cancellation of the Liberals’ nascent national child care program. (CBC News Story, Feb 6, 2006: Source)

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