How can the child-care system in B.C. be improved?

Darcelle Cottons
Director, UBC Child Care Services

"A balance between multilevels of government funding plus parents fees would allow the programs to serve the children in the best way possible. There are subsidies for low-income families, but the difference between our fees and the subsidies that are available make it a barrier for low-income families."

Laurie Geschke
President, REAL Women of Canada

"Parents need to have the freedom to make the choice on how they want child care for their children. Institutionalized child care is actually the fifth of five choices. It's the least-preferred by Canadian parents. The first choice is for children to be raised by the mother or the parent that stays at home."

Stephanie Seaman
Vancouver parent and early childhood educator

"The biggest problem we have is political will. Other provinces are creating systems even though the federal government doesn't give them support. But in this province, we have the provincial government and the national government to contend with, and I believe they are our biggest barrier."

Sabine Tanasiuk
Child-care and family-programs coordinator, Ray-Cam Cooperative Centre

"Equitable is not equal. We need to be putting more resources in areas where there are vulnerable children who belong to low-income families. Both parents have to go out and work, and it takes two earners for these families to survive. Child care must be made affordable to those who need it most."