Parent voices frustration over delayed opening of new child-care centres
Early Childhood Development minister says department is working through applications
Parents are joining a chorus of others who are voicing concerns over government delays that are keeping $10-a-day child-care spaces from opening across parts of Newfoundland and Labrador.
"This is life-changing for families," Erin Cullen, a founding member of ABCs and ECEs N.L., told CBC News Friday.
"It's really, really just totally disheartening to hear that we have operators who are saying 'I'm ready to go, I'm ready to open up spaces.'"
Cullen said she's heard from several prospective child-care operators that are stuck waiting for approval from the provincial government to get new facilities open.
Some operators have told her that they've gotten permits from their towns or municipalities, but approval from the province is the final hurdle," she said.
"We've been hearing [they're] waiting on one signature to get funding released, but essentially no funds are coming through," Cullen said. "It's being hung up, and [they're] not sure why."
Cullen said she's also heard about other hang-ups from operators. In one instance, a child-care centre has been able to be regulated for care, but is unable to join the province's operating grant program that would allow them to provide $10-a-day child care.
She said those spaces are invaluable for parents trying to avail of them.
"Each individual family getting access to $10-a-day child care, it makes a huge difference for them," she said. "It feels like winning the lottery for most people."
Stay tuned, minister says
Early Childhood Development Minister Bernard Davis said Friday that hundreds of applicants are seeking to open child-care spaces — and that staff are working with them through all stages of the process.
"There's some people in this application process that would have just been reaching out, initial stages saying 'This is the idea we have, can this work? How would we work in the system?' And our staff are working with them," Davis said.
"There's others that are closing in on the end of this continuum.… Just this past week, we approved one in Bay St. George that was ready to go, while others are not in that final stage of readiness. There is others that we're working very closely with, so I would say stay tuned."
The approved centre Davis spoke of is in St. George's. Parents in that community were the first to voice their concerns in May. Daycare operator Rhonda Sheppard confirmed Friday that the centre was approved.
Davis said creating $10-a-day child-care spaces is a priority for himself and for Premier John Hogan. He said he's committed to opening spaces as quickly as possible, but avoided mentioning potential timelines.
"If you're going to ask what the date is, I can't give you a date," he said, adding it could take years for some applications to be approved.
Cullen said the province's silence on the issue prior to Friday has made her and other parents nervous. She wants to see child care as a key issue in this fall's provincial election with party platforms that show a plan to improve access.
"We need to understand that they know that child care is essential for our province. Child care isn't just about having kids go to 'care'. It's about allowing parents to go back to work," Cullen said.
"It solves so many problems for us as a province."
Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from Heather Gillis