Single mother caught in the middle of the ongoing BCGEU strike

Mishayla Vandenhuvel, a single mother and UBC student, finds herself in a precarious situation as the BCGEU strike causes delays in her Affordable Child Care Benefit payments. Having not received her monthly payment, which is now two weeks late, she struggles to manage her finances while caring for her four-year-old son, Marshall. Despite assurances from the province that electronic payments should remain unaffected, Vandenhuvel's experience contradicts this claim, leading to increased anxiety about her family's financial future. The strike has particularly disrupted some B. C.

childcare programs, causing delays in mailed cheques. Vandenhuvel emphasizes that the uncertainty surrounding her payments is the most distressing aspect of the situation, as she prepares for a potentially lean Christmas. The province has directed families to check the ChildCareBC website for updates, but this has provided little reassurance. Vandenhuvel's plight highlights the broader impact of government actions on vulnerable families, raising questions about the adequacy of support systems during labor disputes. As she navigates this difficult period, she remains uncertain about her next steps.