Close to a quarter of P.E.I.'s childcare centres plan to stay private and opt out of the province's new daycare plan.

All 95 daycares on the Island had to submit government forms last week, indicating what they plan to do: 17 decided to get out of the business, 23 will remain private, and 55 will go with the government's plan, which means following stricter regulations.

"Maybe they (government) rushed in a little bit too quick and we need more time to think about things," said Lynn Hogan, president of the Early Learning Operators of P.E.I.

Hogan has decided her daycare, Campus Kids in Charlottetown, will stay private. She's surprised, however, by the number of operators planning to do the same. Hogan is also concerned so many people are getting out of the business.

Linda Lowther, with the provincial Department of Early Childhood Development, said she's not surprised by the results.

"The numbers look pretty close to what we were expecting just on raw, cold numbers. What we're going to have to do over the next two weeks, roughly, is go through each application."

Lowther said the department will meet with centres that want to come under government; those that meet standards will receive contracts.

Lowther said she's confident at least 20 will be ready to go by the fall.

Meanwhile, Hogan said she's pleased with the number of people who opted out of the government's plan.

She said it gives her hope private daycares will not eventually be shut down.

via www.cbc.ca

TORONTO – Canadians, especially women, are caught in a time crunch and the problem has been getting worse over the past 15 years, says a new report by the Canadian Index of Wellbeing (CIW), Caught in the Time Crunch: Time Use, Leisure and Culture in Canada.

 

“People are struggling to meet the competing demands of a workplace that can reach out to them 24/7, caring for children and aging parents, and their own need to refresh body and mind. As individuals and as a society we are paying a steep price for this time crunch. We’re less healthy, both physically and mentally and we have less time for leisure and relaxation with family” said The Honourable Roy J. Romanow, Chair of the CIW Advisory Board.

 

Among the report’s key findings:

• The proportion of Canadians experiencing high levels of time crunch grew from 16% in 1992 to 20% in 2005. About 23% of women felt time pressured and 17% of men.
• In 1992, 23% of Canadians worked non-standard hours (weekends, evenings, nights, rotating shifts). By 2009 the proportion jumped to 29%.
• Adults providing care to seniors grew from 17% in 1996 to 20% in 2006. More women (23%) took care of seniors compared to men (16%).
• Teenagers 15-17 who had a meal on a typical day with their parents plunged from 64% in 1992 to 35% in 2005.
• Time spent on social leisure activities dropped from 15% in 1998 to 12% in 2005.
• Attendance at arts performances dropped from 15 million to 13 million in 2001-2006;
• Low income, living in a poor neighbourhood, low parental education, recent immigration, racialized status, and Aboriginal status affect participation in leisure and culture.
• Despite an overall increase in volunteerism in Canada, the proportion volunteering for culture and recreation organizations dropped from 32% in 1997 to 22% in 2004.

The Report concludes with a call for a national dialogue on how Canadians can lead more balanced lives. “This is not just a simple case of individuals needing to better manage their time,” Romanow said. “We need family-friendly policies for all workers and more community resources and supports for seniors. We need governments and public policies that support leisure and culture activities and venues – ensuring that equity and inclusion are overarching principles in our approach.”

via www.ciw.ca