Access to childcare in Smithers is hitting a critical level according to a recent letter penned by parents who have recently lost their childcare spots due to a lack of early childhood educators in the community.

Lisa Feinberg and about 25 other parents signed an open letter to all levels of government to take immediate action on the expanding childcare crisis in Smithers, which has been a long standing issue in the community of 5,500 people.

According to their letter, at least 40 families have been affected by staffing shortages at the few daycares in Smithers that offer care for children under 30 months.

The growing crisis has now left some parents scrabbling to find childcare after losing a spot at the only daycare in town for children three-years-old and under. In some cases, it makes the return to work difficult, leading others to consider moving out of town due to the lack of childcare in Smithers.

The letter also points out that women are disproportionately affected by the lack of childcare, keeping many women from returning to the workforce.

"When families do not have childcare, it is well documented that for the most part, it is women who are forgoing work opportunities to stay home and take care of the children," the open letter stated.

"While this is of course a labour of love, it prevents women from reaching their full potential in the workplace. It also disproportionately affects single mothers (which some of us are), who are the sole earner in the family," it continued.

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