British Columbia legislators will consider a recommendation from Revelstoke to include money in the 2024 budget to subsidize summer camps, thanks to input from the After School Society executive director, Joanne Gawler.
Because the price of summer camps is high, parents in the summer often have no choice but to use the camps as a form of child care because there aren't any other options.
"Just because summer comes along and your kids are off of school, that doesn’t mean you are off [work] as well, it’s ridiculous," Gawler said.
Gawler's daughter was in summer camp this year and she said it averages around $350 a week. "How the heck are people going to afford that?" she asked.
The province is mandated to consult British Columbians about their priorities while making budgets. The Select Standing Committee on Finance visited 11 communities including Revelstoke this summer, and heard from more people remotely over Zoom.
Along with Gawler, who was speaking for the After School Society, 11 other people representing local organizations addressed the committee on June 7 when it was in Revelstoke.
Some of these organizations included Community Connections, the Community Housing Society, the Chamber of Commerce, the Railway Museum, and the Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Council.
Gawler said someone from Doug Clovechok, MLA for Columbia River-Revelstoke's office reached out to her and asked her to address the committee.
Along with requesting funding for summer camp subsidies, Gawler requested that the household income threshold the receive the Affordable Childcare Benefit be increased from $110,000 to $200,000.Currently, households that make more than $110,000 don't qualify for the benefit. Gawler says it should be $200,000.
Members of the committee questioned the $90,000 jump.
Gawler explained that between the cost of rent, groceries, gas and childcare, and low wages, the increase is necessary for families to get by.
"You’re basically working to have your child go to childcare, but not take home anything." She said.
And although committee members didn't include this recommendation in their report to legislators, Gawler said it's good to talk as much as possible about the cost of living in communities to people making decisions around the budget.
The third thing Gawler requested is more subsidies for after school care. She thinks that if there are $10 a day daycare spaces, there should be $5 after school care spaces.
"Those are the three things that are in your face right now in child care," she said, "summer camp is massive."
The demand for child care in Revelstoke is currently far out-weighing the supply, especially for affordable, subsidized spots. And child care providers are struggling to create more spaces.
Gawler said the points she brought forward are "in your face right now."
After consulting British Columbians for the 2024 budget, committee members wrote up the priorities they heard and their recommendations in the document Report on the Budget 2024 Consultation. This will be presented to legislators in the fall.
"I hope it goes to Parliament and they say, 'That's a no brainer,'" Gawler said.
To listen to a full interview with Gawler click the link below.