Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.
Some Alberta childcare operators are threatening to opt out of Canada’s $10-a-day childcare deal amid what they call “government turmoil.”
The Alberta Association of Child Care Entrepreneurs (AACE) told Global News that many of its members have “finally had enough” following a recent, tense town hall meeting.
“I think people are frustrated,” said AACE chairwoman Krystal Churcher. “I’m frustrated.”
Churcher said operators, who he believed were initially “forced” to sign contracts “under duress,” now face the possibility of withholding critical funding. He said the government had announced plans to send a survey to operators to understand the cost of running childcare centers in the province.
“We are three years into this agreement,” he noted. “Three years into transforming our childcare sector and they are only now asking for financial information.”
Churcher said the government has not listened to what operators have to say about the costs associated with providing “quality” care.
“You want a sustainable system that provides specialized programming that supports all of your child’s needs — that’s not a discount service,” she said. “Those are things that cost money.”
“If we think we can do it for $10 a day when you can’t get a coffee and a muffin for $10 a day – we’re delusional.”
The federal government’s 2021 budget included a five-year, $30 billion proposal that would eventually cut costs for families to $10 a day by 2025-26.
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All states and territories have signed up to the agreement. In exchange for the federal money, states had to implement the federal vision, which, while cutting fees, also sought to increase the wages of child care workers.
Some operators have said the federal-provincial agreements limit the fees they can charge while not providing enough support to cover all their costs.
Imagination Tree Child Care Center in Calgary.
Tomasia DaSilva
Sarah Hunter is the owner of The Imagination Tree Childcare Centre. She told Global News the fees don’t cover her “ever-growing” costs and instead have plunged her deep into debt.
“Bankruptcy,” he said. “We are facing the closure of our centre.”
Hunter, whose family has been in the childcare business for 35 years, said she simply won’t be able to survive much longer under the $10-a-day program.
“My rent has gone up $1,000 every year since I moved in. The cost of food has been enormous. My insurance has gone up,” he said. “Everything has gone up, but my fees have been frozen. My fees are the same as they were five years ago.”
Hunter believed the government had no idea what it costs to run childcare centres, adding that trying to find out now is a bit too late.
“The fact that they’re asking for that three years into this and I’m already in so much debt – it’s just too late and it’s not enough.”
“Where was the government when I put a million dollars into this center?” she asked. “They weren’t here. They did not fund this day care. They really stole it from me.”
She has not decided whether she will opt out or not, adding that she has her staff and clients to think about.
“I’m heartbroken,” she said tearfully. “I am heartbroken for the children we serve and their families. If we don’t remain viable and open, I have no idea where they will go.”
AACE is urging the government to rethink its approach, warning that the current strategy could lead to the collapse of high-quality child care services in Alberta.
Global News reached out to the provincial and federal governments but has yet to hear back.
& copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
(Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
source link https://globalnews.ca/news/10577023/alberta-private-childcare-operators-opt-out-10-a-day/
