Bill 47 – Letter to the Editor (The Guardian, Journal Pioneer, West Prince Graphic & Eastern Graphic)

May 19, 2010

Dear Editor,

Today Bill 47 was passed by the PEI government; just prior to the closing of the Spring legislative session. This Bill makes a simple wording change (replacing “shall” with “may”) in the Child Care Facilities Act.  

“SECTION 1 amends a provision of the Child Care Facilities Act regarding the Child Care Facilities Board issuing licenses for the operation of child care facilities by referencing the application process and changing the word “shall” to the word “may”. “

This change will now allow the Child Care Facilities Board to choose NOT to issue a child care license to an applicant who applies for licensing to operate a child care facility on the Island. The criteria for how the Board will determine such license refusals has not been made public; nor has this issue been fully discussed in any form of recent, open public consultation process that directly involved parents.  In essence, this change now gives the Board complete power to determine whom, how and where a new child care program may be developed.  It is important to note that the Board consists of a range of individuals; some of who are operators of currently licensed child care facilities.  

This change to the Act will now also protect existing operators (some of which offer lower quality child care) from new programs being established in areas where high quality early learning and care options are desperately needed.  This change will also reduce program choice for families in many communities, as new programs will only be able to open if the Board chooses to license them.

For more than two years, I have been actively working with mothers, fathers, grandparents, child care centres, industry professionals and concerned citizens of PEI to prevent a change such as this from passing through the PEI Legislature.  Both choice and quality, as related to early learning and care, was seriously compromised with the passing of Bill 47.  It is indeed a sad, sad day for Prince Edward Island children and families.

I urge Islanders to contact their MLA today and discuss Bill 47 with them. Please ask your MLA these 3 questions:

•    Does Bill 47 ensure that there will be ample early learning and care choices available in all Island communities?

•    Does Bill 47 enhance early learning and care quality or entrench lower quality programs?

•    Is there not a conflict of interest for child care operators to serve on the Child Care Facilities Board; especially when the Board will now have the ability to refuse license applications for new programs?

Yours truly,

Jane Boyd
President, Parents for Choice & Quality Society (PEI)
President, Work Family & Life Consulting Ltd (BC)

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