NPA's Melissa De Genova questions Vancouver park board's involvement with joint council on childcare
According to rookie Non-Partisan Association commissioner Melissa De Genova, the mandate of the Vancouver park board does not include childcare.
However, the agenda of the Monday (December 12) meeting of the newly anointed board includes a motion from park board chair Constance Barnes. In it, the re-elected Vision Vancouver commissioner suggests the board continue to play a role on the city’s joint council on childcare, on which Barnes sat during her first term.
“During the election, the whole entire election, I said, ‘I support our space, our community centres or recreation facilities—if we have the space, we would provide that for child care,’” De Genova told the Straight by phone.
“But I do not feel that it’s appropriate that park board operates child-care facilities. And then the questions that I have are, with this joint council on childcare, how much money is this going to cost? And we’ve already had so many budget cuts, so I think that we have to work with what we have right now, instead of creating new councils.”
Barnes told the Straight by phone, “It’s not a cost; there is no cost.”
She stated in her motion that the joint council, which also includes one city councillor, one school board trustee, and other members, “led to the creation of more than 600 new childcare spaces between 2002 and 2005”. Barnes said the park board provides the space, but the programs themselves are contracted out.
Asked if she should just stick to advocating for park space, Barnes said, “No, I do not. I do not. We are now feeding children…[in] places like Strathcona food programs. Are we to say, ‘Sorry, no?’ Our job is to listen to the people that are saying, ‘Here’s what this community needs.’ ”
De Genova responded, “I do not believe there will be no costs. How can you say there are no costs?”
The commissioner said there are sure to be staff costs associated with the joint council, and she claimed some hours for “research and review”, as well as “facility overviews and costs”, will also be devoted to Barnes’s pet passion.
“Those are hours that, obviously, will cost money,” De Genova added.
Comments
9 Comments
GZLFB
Dec 7, 2011 at 6:30pm
She's right.
Sharon Gregson
Dec 7, 2011 at 8:11pm
It is most unfortunate that newly elected Melissa De Genova had clearly not read the terms of reference of the Vancouver Joint Child Care Council before she started throwing around wild accusations of costs for the Park Board.
The JCCC is a proven successful method for the three elected boards to work together to remove barriers to creating more child care spaces in Vancouver public spaces. For instance, when new public buildings are built in Vancouver (community centres, libraries, schools) child care needs to be one of the considerations.
Melissa De Genova should be aware that working families in Vancouver are desperate for access to child care and our Park Board, School Board and City Council all have a role to play in facilitating the creation of new spaces.
Sharon Gregson
Dianne
Dec 7, 2011 at 10:47pm
A reality check is 100% necessary on this.
Hats off and thanks to you Ms Barnes for leading the way.
Vancouver politicians have shown strong leadership when it comes to municipal cooperation and collaboration for the benefit of children and families. Of course it makes sense for elected officials, community members and staff in the existing structures to work and plan together when it comes to child care. The beneficiaries are not only the children, but the families and all of us community members.
It's wise use of existing resources - smart use of taxpayer dollars all the way.
Now if only the province and federal governments also followed this lead we could even count on building a child care system in our neighbourhoods.
Andy Longhurst
Dec 7, 2011 at 10:57pm
The reactionary NPA machine is already hard at work attempting to dismantle anything that helps working, not to mention, single-parent, families get by in this increasingly unaffordable city.
brad carter
Dec 8, 2011 at 9:24am
what better way to spend tax dollars than to improve the lives of children....they are the future...
Vic Rabor
Dec 8, 2011 at 10:09am
Sad to say that there are some "politicians" that still think and decide like those of the feudal politics. Projects and programs should be decided base on benefits and cost not on the political affiliation of the person who proposed and table it. We should always remember that you promised your voters that you will serve their cause, their needs and their dreams...you are not there to destroy a good program/project just because it is from the other side of the fence.
james green
Dec 8, 2011 at 11:02am
Got job briefing your daughter Al. NOT
spartikus
Dec 9, 2011 at 12:15pm
I don't remember the NPA mentioning this stand pre-election.
And now, suddenly, we find out they are against this. And they wonder why they have a trust problem.
I'm one of those parents who rely on after-school care operated out of a community centre. We would be lost without. And we're not the only ones - I've lined up twice at 3am to register for these programs (kindercare and after-school care). I was not the first one there. Some of those parents that came later and didn't get space were in tears.
Young families are being driven out of this city and De Genova wants to help show them the door.
GZLFB
Dec 16, 2011 at 11:38pm
Less wasted dad and mom's cash is bettering child's lives. If they weren't taxed to death and able to do things in the private sector they'd be better off. Granted if the parks and school board were ended it would be a huger saving.