When it comes to affordable childcare the government has spent too much time listening to what parents want and not enough time consulting the industry on what is viable, says a local service provider.
On Tuesday, the NDP government announced the creation of 18 new early learning and child care centres that would focus on capping fees at $25 per day.
The $10 million investment is first step towards a promised universal $25 per day childcare program, and is expected to create an estimated 1,000 new childcare spaces and up to 230 new child care jobs.
The new centres would receive up to $500,000 in operating grants the first year, with the potential to receive two more years of funding.
But Tricia Cunningham, executive director of SIGIS Child Care Society, said even with a government subsidy there’s no way a not-for-profit like hers could make ends meet on $25 per day.
“As I’m sitting here looking at a budget for next year I’m not quite sure how, even with the $500,000 subsidy, it could be operational if you’re running a good not-for-profit,” she said. “In order to operate a high quality childcare program, it’s over $1 million.”
Current childcare fees range from $14 to $39 per day across the province, including subsidies.
SIGIS charges between $800 and $1080 per month, which amounts to around $34 and $47 per day depending on the age of the child. Cunningham says this is relatively low when compared to other day care providers in the area.
Part of the issue is high lease rates. “I don’t think Mrs. Notley knows that the lease spaces in St. Albert are very high,” she said. “You’re looking at the leases alone $120,000 if not more.”
Existing licensed not-for-profit day care programs can apply for the grant, as well as not-for-profit organizations in the process of or interested in becoming licensed. Successful applicants must be licensed before receiving the grant.
Cunningham said she might look into the grant program, but doubts she will apply given the other priorities of the program.
In addition to capping fees at $25 per day, the new centres are meant to address gaps in the system, such as flexible daycare for part-time and shift workers and accessible settings such as hospitals and other public buildings.
Cunningham believes it would be too difficult to staff shifts outside the typical 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. childcare hours.
Beverly Call, executive director for St. Albert Day Care Society agrees that finding the workforce could prove difficult.
“A lot of child care workers are parents as well,” she said.
St. Albert MLA Marie Renaud believes the initiative has been “a long-time coming.”
While at LoSeCa she looked at opening an employer sponsored daycare to support shift workers and was shocked at the prices and lack of spaces.
“Certainly I’d love to see it a little more widespread, but it’s a really good start,” she said.
The move towards a universal $25 per day child care fee will move forward as the province’s finances permit, according to Tuesday’s announcement.
Renaud was also pleased with the program’s focus on providing supports for children with diverse needs. Currently, day care providers can decide what supports to offer families.
“It’s so important to have children with disabilities in the same daycares as other kids to start that process of integrating people as soon as possible,” she said.
Enrolment information will become available once the locations of the new centres are announced in early 2017.
Centre locations will be determined based on space creation, capacity and enrolment trends, supply and demand pressures and community needs assessments. Proposals will be reviewed by representatives from the ministries of human services and status of women.
The deadline to apply to become an Early Learning and Child Care Centre is Jan. 20, 2017. Grant funding will come into effect in April 2017.
The government will conduct ongoing evaluation processes of the new concepts being implemented in the centres.
The new centres and the $25 cap will not affect available childcare subsidies.
