Burnaby Board of Trade Delivers Message to Minister: Childcare and Return to School is a Clear Economic Issue

In a call with the provincial Minister of Childcare Katrina Chen, the Burnaby Board of Trade emphasized that childcare and a return to school in September is not a family issue but an economic issue.  Beyond the demonstrated benefits for children of regular, stable childcare and education, the availability of childcare and full-time school is crucial to the ability of many employees to return to work fully and productively.

The Burnaby Board of Trade applauds the Minister and the provincial government for their efforts thus far on providing emergency funding to support childcare centres and prevent closures, and for their efforts in building net net childcare spaces. On the call, the BBOT encouraged the province to continue to make investments in this area as part of the both the COVID-19 response and our ongoing economic strategy.

Childcare and summer programs were identified as a fundamental part of our economic recovery by the Burnaby Business Recovery Task Force in its final report. Going forward, the BBOT will be engaging with providers more regularly and sharing information with the business community on childcare opportunities.