Excerpted from introduction:
British Columbia is at a moment of intense disruption and change, from the pandemic to the climate emergency, to the affordability and opioid crises. To respond to this moment and “build a strong, sustainable economy that works for everyone” — as BC’s Ministerial mandate letters all direct — government must seek out intersections between seemingly disparate issues, and act in ways that simultaneously advance multiple goals. I
n that spirit, this policy note sets out to specifically examine five intersections between the issues of child care, the environment, and climate change: 1. Protecting children’s environmental health; 2. Improving buildings; 3. Reducing transportation emissions; 4. Powering the clean economy; and 5. Helping all families engage.
Within these intersections, we present 10 key recommendations to the BC government to strengthen the Childcare BC plan, CleanBC Roadmap to 2030, and related provincial plans and regulations. The recommendations align with and supplement the community Roadmap to $10aDay Child Care in BC.1 Our aim is to hasten BC’s transition to both universal child care and a clean economy in ways that improve the health and well-being of children, families, educators, and communities.
Our aim is to hasten BC’s transition to both universal child care and a clean economy in ways that improve the health and well-being of children, families, educators, and communities.