THE BC Liberals on Friday called on the government to provide policy guidance and safety measures to the early learning and childcare sector, which has been ignored by the NDP without any support and is struggling to navigate the Omicron surge.

“This is just another example of the NDP making short-sighted decisions without consideration of ​the impacts. ​How can they discount the importance of the most vulnerable considering those under five years old aren’t eligible to be immunized?” said Karin Kirkpatrick, BC Liberal Critic for Children, Family Development and Childcare.

“It’s unacceptable for the government to expect child care centres to remain open but is leaving operators to come up with their own plans to deal with the Omicron wave. I urge the NDP to implement recommendations laid out by Early Childhood Educators of BC (ECEBC) as soon as possible, as these hard-working caregivers and educators are disheartened and should have been consulted in the first place.”

These recommendations include ensuring access to vaccine boosters, rapid antigen tests, and N95 masks, in addition to appropriate communication and transparency of information about emerging variants.

“Child care is an essential service but the NDP did not bother addressing their needs,” added Kirkpatrick. “Parents require child care so they can go to work​ — not if daycares aren’t safe. We must do everything we can to protect the health and well-being of our children and educators. It’s time for the NDP to do its part.”