As the lack of childcare space continues to be a critical issue in Squamish, the District is applying for a grant that will hopefully foot the bill for 32 new childcare spaces.
Council unanimously supported a staff initiative to draft an application seeking close to $1 million from the Union of BC Municipalities, or UBCM.
A District planner urged councillors to seize the opportunity, given the circumstances.
"We see continued high rates of vulnerability for Squamish kids over the last decade, and it's not getting much better," said Sarah McJannet during the Jan. 8 council meeting.
"Also, we have rapid growth in our child and family population. Childcare space creation hasn't kept up with this demand. We have large wait lists, especially for infant toddlers."
McJannet said staff will be asking the UBCM to pay 100 per cent of the project's cost.
The application would be for $950,000 to create a new childcare facility, which would likely be at Valleycliffe Elementary. Mamquam Elementary is also an option, too.
McJannet also proposed applying for another grant that would pay the $25,000 bill for a consultant who would study the childcare situation in town.
Mayor Karen Elliott asked McJannet to try and make that person manage the new childcare facility so it would help cut down on administrative costs.
Sea to Sky Community Services will be listed on the application as the partner for this project.
Everyone on council voted in favour of making the application to the UBCM, though Elliott said in the future she would like to see a different approach.
"I am fundamentally uncomfortable that we are leading this. I think, like our housing projects, they should be led by a community partner," said Elliott.
"This isn't our responsibility. I don't think childcare is a municipal [responsibility.]"
Elliott said that while municipalities can provide the resources for childcare, it shouldn't be spearheading each initiative.
She added that, next time around, she'd also like to put out a request for expression of interest for the sake of transparency.
"I'll support it because we need the spaces, but I would not want to see this model come forward in the same way again," said Elliott.
"I believe our role is to facilitate and not to lean on issues that are senior government's responsibility."
The remarks were similar to her comments on the Buckley Avenue housing project.
During the last meeting regarding that matter, Elliott supported the Buckley development but said that in the future, the municipality shouldn't be doing the heavy lifting for affordable housing when it's the province's responsibility.
