Childcare worries brought to MLAs at partisan meeting

Photo: Chelsea Powrie

Amanda Burnett calls herself "just some Mom from Penticton."

But her consistent activism for the cause of accessible childcare in B.C. has earned her province-wide attention, and a spot at the table with about 30 MLAs this past week in Victoria. 

"It was really an honour to be invited. Some of those women at the table have more experience in childcare than years I have been alive," Burnett said of the experience. 

She was an invited member of the Coalition of Childcare Advocates of BC contingency that met with MLAs in Victoria on Oct. 10. 

They brought forward issues like a chronic lack of affordable childcare options in communities around the province from big cities to tiny towns. 

Burnett is the founder of the Waitlisted Project, an online group that collects stories from B.C. parents about their struggles to return to work after having children because of a lack of daycare options.

She was able to share stories from some of the parents directly to MLAs of their communities. 

"We did seven sessions, they came in to each session and they came in to talk with us," Burnett explained, adding that the MLAs who heard the struggles of women in their specific ridings appeared very moved. 

Only NDP MLAs sat in on the sessions, which was a disappointment for Burnett, who would like to see a cross-party movement recognizing the importance of childcare reform. She says the provincial NDP's $10-a-day childcare vision is a good step, but wants to keep pushing for that from MLAs from all parties and encouraging the NDP to keep up with the promise. 

She believes other party members would have benefited from hearing from the coalition, especially those who have come out against helping new mothers get back to work.

"Its unfortunate that childcare is a partisan issue," Burnett said. 

She is now back in Penticton, planning to continue the fight for accessible childcare for all.