A Nova Scotia mother is calling on the federal government to expand Childcare Funding to involve private operators.
“It’s a child care crisis,” Andrea Ferguson says of the lack of available daycare places in her community of East Hants.
Ferguson says there are few operators in the area apart from private providers. She wants to see an amendment to the $10-a-day child care agreement between the province and the federal government.
“All these centers that I’m calling have over 200 kids on their waiting list and they’re telling me they’re coming in every day, and they’re turning people away,” says Ferguson.
Both her children, aged two and four, currently attend a private daycare.
As soon as she found out she was pregnant, she put her name on the waiting list. But now her oldest child is about to start school, which means Ferguson is searching again.
“My daycare doesn’t offer after-school programming,” she explains. “Along with many of my friends and kids the same age as me, we’re all in this dilemma.”
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Ferguson’s advocacy regarding child care has earned her a seat as a non-profit board member.
“The province is coming in and saying you’re a non-profit daycare, can you solve the child care crisis in your community,” she says. “this is too much.”
Ferguson is urging the federal government to allow private daycares to be eligible for expansion funding to cover gaps in the system.
Advocacy group cautions against private daycare expansion
Meanwhile, Childcare Now Nova Scotia, an advocacy group, warns against the move.
“Nationally and in Nova Scotia, we follow evidence that says quality care is provided in not-for-profit child care centres,” says coordinator Kenya Thompson.
“When you have care that is provided based on providing good care rather than making profits, you will get higher quality care.”
She also warns that daycares that operate as private assets can also be taken advantage of by global corporations.
In February, Nova Scotia’s Education Minister Becky Druhan issued a formal extension request in the form of a letter to the federal government.
“That conversation is ongoing,” says Druhan. “I’m actually meeting with the minister [Jenna] Suds later today. “I hope there will be more to update after that.”
Until there is an official response, questions will remain for Ferguson.
“I’m in a position where I wonder, ‘Will I be able to work full time when my daughter starts school?'” she says.
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