Here is an exerpt from a story appeared in the Eastern Graphic last week –
parents, Ms Brown said another solution could be to put a cap on the
number of daycare centres that are allowed to open in a given area.
“We’re kind of hoping the government will legislate something to put a
cap that there’ll be no more centres open, at least until we’re full.
There’s not much point having 20 centres and nobody full,” she said.
“(Amalgamation of daycares in the area) would be impossible. Amanda’s
got a mortgage to pay and I have a mortgage to pay. You can’t walk away
from one mortgage and into another one if you open a bigger centre.” Mr
Greenan is out of the province until the end of the week at a meeting
of the Canadian Ministers of Education, but Jean Doherty,
communications officer for the Department of Education, said the
current legislation doesn’t allow for any such cap on the opening of
new daycares. “If the provisions of the law are met, a licence has to
be granted,” Ms Doherty said. “The parents want to have a choice and
it’s a privately-delivered service.”
Hmmmmm…..why does this sound a little familiar? Just over a year ago this issue arose and created quite a stir on the Island. Many parents became passionate about the fact that there was the possibility that child care spaces might be capped. A petition was created and a Facebook group was formed. Blog posts were written and videos were even developed by Island parents in an effort to raise awareness about how important it is for families to have choice when it comes to early learning and child care programs on PEI. An informal group which we called Parents for Choice and Quality emerged to ensure that the needs of children and families were put BEFORE the needs of operators and the system. Collectively we became clear about the fact that we are for a system that puts children and families first and foremost. Today Parents for Choice & Quality is an incorporated non profit organization that works toward ensuring that all children and families have access to a
comprehensive and coordinated range of high quality services that
supports them in achieving their full potential.
So – let's just be clear on something here – placing a cap on the number of
child care centres will protect child care operators NOT children. Placing a cap on spaces is only about the needs of operators – it is NOT about the needs of children and families. Placing a cap on spaces is absolutely NOT the way to enhance the level of quality of early learning environments on PEI.
Make sure you stay tuned to the debate. Listen to what child care operators are saying and challenge them if they talk about capping spaces. Parents, contact your MLA and let them know how important you feel it is to have choice when it comes to early learning programs on PEI. Don't let your right to choice be taken away. Tell your MLA that placing a cap on the number of spaces and child care facilities available in your area is not what is good for children and is not what is wanted by Island families!