WHEREAS the Province is mandated to regulate and enforce health, safety and staffing standards for child care facilities to protect our most vulnerable citizens; AND WHEREAS new regulations enacted in 2007 have placed a burden on those community facilities that are attempting to meet the needs of a wide variety of clients, some of whom are employed by resource based companies requiring their employees to work long and varied shift schedules: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities appeal to the Province of British Columbia to review the Child Care Licensing Regulations in consultation with child care operators, and where necessary, make amendments to the Community Care and Assisted Living Act that would better serve the needs of shift work clients, and parents with multi-age children.
Ministry of Children Family Development The Province understands the difficulties facing families with children of various ages who work shift hours. Prior to amending the Child Care Licensing Regulation, the Province of British Columbia conducted province-wide consultations with child care service providers. The Regulations include a flexible structure to accommodate providers who offer child care to parents working shift hours or long shifts, providing that there is not any increased risk to health and safety and the situation is in the best interest of the child. To that effect, child care operators may apply for exemptions from the requirements of Licensing Regulations, if they wish to provide more than 13 hours of care per day. The Government of British Columbia is continually considering ways to ensure that the health and safety of the provinces youngest citizens are met, while also providing flexibility and convenience for working families in need of child care.