Chamber of Commerce director wants federal solution to childcare problems

“I’ve definitely heard a lot about the childcare file and we heard a lot about that throughout the pandemic with a lot of our moms having to stay at home while the children were taking their school from online,” she said.

Pangilinan said affordable, accessible and high quality childcare could help women get back into the workforce, and in turn help fill the labour shortage. Pangilinan said the federal government should help women access childcare.

“There can be incentives, tax incentives, for women who have to pay for childcare to get back into the workplace… to make it accessible, to have some sort of benefit for women to bring their kids into daycare,” she said.

Modern Family Boutique is a downtown local business run entirely by a team of women. Most are mothers. The owner has changed their hours to accommodate the schedules of working mothers.

“We’ve had to adjust our hours, just based on the fact that most daycares here in town close at 5:00 or 5:30. It’s hard for our mom employees to get to daycare in time for pickup if we’re opening later. We just adjusted so that we’re 10:00 to 4:00,” said owner Jenn Marple.

Meanwhile, Pangilinan has wasted no time in reaching out to woman business owners to hear their stories. She’ll bring them forward when she meets with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Council for Women’s Advocacy.

“Really, it’s an opportunity for me to hear from women in our community, to bring forward the work that we’re doing with this council and see if any of that work would help the women in the community, or if our women have suggestions or feedback from their perspectives,” she said.

by Stephanie Swensrude

Chamber of Commerce director wants federal solution to childcare problems

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