The provincial legislature was back in session Wednesday, and Opposition Leader Olive Crane used question period to hammer government on a lack of funding and vision for P.E.I.’s child care sector.
Crane pointed to an imminent crisis facing early childhood centres if funding from the province is not forthcoming, and soon.
Kindergarten used to provide over $5 million a year in revenues for the early childhood sector, but now that kindergarten is moving into the public school system this fall, child care centres will lose not only revenue but a majority of their teachers.
Without some kind of assistance, many of these centres will likely close. That will be devastating to families with working parents in need of child care, Crane said.
“It’s a huge concern. Right now there’s a risk of 30 to 35 centres that are going to be closed as early as June. We’ve been trying to get attention for parents, for facility owners, for staff across P.E.I. for the last two years and this government seems to not understand the crisis that’s facing them this June.”
Crane pointed to a number of areas where the early childhood sector has been left to flounder, including low wages for educators and subsidies that have not risen at the same rate as the cost of care.
But Early Childhood Development Minister Doug Currie said those issues have reached a crisis point due to inaction on the part of the former Progressive Conservative government.
He said recent travels across the Island allowed him to hear first-hand from parents and educators about their concerns for the future of the sector.
“The message that was loud and clear during those meetings is that the sector has felt disrespected and neglected for way too long and our government is going to make sure that they’re a priority as we move forward.”
A throng of early childhood educators, parents and child care operators who filled the public gallery Wednesday listened intently to the debate on the floor of the legislature.
But many of them left as frustrated as they arrived at what they perceived to be non-committal answers coming from Currie, the premier and other ministers questioned by Crane on child care.
“We’re not really generating what we want to get across — some of the numbers that didn’t come out is that 86 per cent of women on P.E.I. are working — some of the highest in the country — and we’re looking at families that actually can’t afford the cost of child care,” said Joe MacAulay, a parent and co-chair of a non-profit organization that runs a child care centre in rural P.E.I.
“Right now it’s coming to the point that if we don’t have funding, we’ll have to increase rates. But if we increase rates people can’t afford to keep their children in the centres.”
He said if the early childhood sector on P.E.I. doesn’t get a solid funding commitment from government soon, parents — especially those in rural P.E.I. where many rely on seasonal employment — will be forced to stop working, which in turn would cause major stress on the rural economy.
Crane asked Finance Minister Wes Sheridan whether he has taken into account the financial needs of the early childhood sector when preparing this year’s upcoming budget.
“Last year your department found dollars for wine and beer experts, for renovations to liquor stores and offices,” she said.
“Have you received the message and do you understand what financial support the child care sector is receiving right now, and what the total amount of dollars they need for the future is?”
Currie promised money will be coming for the sector soon, but since Sheridan’s 2010 budget has not been released yet, he couldn’t commit to any specific numbers.

via www.theguardian.pe.ca