Regulated child care centres can stay open during Alert Level 5 but they are being asked to prioritize the children of parents who have no choice but to go to work.

Education Minister Tom Osborne says neither parents nor the centres should be impacted financially as a result of the new health restrictions.

He says parents who do not send their children to daycare now will not have to pay for days they do not attend, and won’t lose their spots. He also said regulated daycare centres on the operating grant program that stay open, will continue to receive full regular funding regardless of attendance levels.

Jim and Lisa Smith are both essential workers but their daycare is unable to provide the one-hour online educational instruction required from 8:30 to 9:30. Jim says that leaves them in a bind.

He says they would have to take their son, who is in Grade 2, to daycare from 7:30 to 8:30, then take him out for an hour, then return him.

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Child care centres can remain open at this time. The provincial government made the decision last night after consultation with Public Health.

The department responsible “recommends” that operators provide service only to the children of existing clients who are required to leave their home and report to their places of work under Alert Level 5.

Parents whose children do not attend their normal regulated daycare service during this time will not be required to pay for days they don’t attend and will not lose their space.

The businesses will be compensated for any reduction in parental fees. Parents of children who DO attend daycare will continue to pay the fees.

The minister responsible for education and child care, Tom Osborne, will speak to the media this morning. He will be joined by the CEO of the English School District, Tony Stack at 10:00 a.m..