CHAT News File Photo

By Regan Tate

NDP calling on immediate funding for childcare facilities

Nov 9, 2021 | 2:42 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Alberta’s Opposition says the UCP needs to use surplus budget finds to help child care centres at risk of closure.

NDP critic Rakhi Pancholi believes there is about $70 million in unused dollars that could be used to support centres as the UCP delays signing a $10-a-day child care agreement with Ottawa.

“Many child care facilities are still experiencing the impacts of the pandemic, but now without the pandemic support, as federal COVID supports come to an end,” stated Pancholi.

Pancholi says help is needed to keep child care centres open as many are at risk of closing. Joining Pancholi in Edmonton was Jen Paul, the director of Mother Nature’s Preschool in Medicine Hat.

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Paul says enrolment dropped after the centre was forced to close its doors during the first wave of the pandemic. Many families found alternate child care and opted not to transition their children back to the school when it re-opened.

“As one of the early learning child care pilot project sites part of the NDP’s $25 per day child care, we were dealt another crushing blow in the middle of the pandemic when the UCP chose to end the program,” said Paul.

As a result educators were forced to take pay cuts while some were laid off. She says there is currently a lack of quality, affordable childcare spaces right across Alberta.

“If we are forced to close our doors due to covid concerns and low enrolment our community will lose child care spaces it can ill afford to lose,” stated Paul.

The Minister of Children’s Services says it is too early to comment on unused funds as there are still five months left in the fiscal year.

The province did announce on Monday that the UCP is directing funding from the Canada-Alberta bilateral agreement to help child care operators. About $19 million has already been distributed. Another $15 million will be provided for COVID-19 relief.